Theresa May denies claims she’s planning ANOTHER snap election amid reports advisers think it’s the only way to force through Brexit
Number 10 rubbishes reports quoting aides to Theresa May who claim that an autumn election could be the only option left to push through Brexit
DOWNING Street last night dismissed claims the PM is preparing for a snap autumn election as “utter hogwash”.
Senior figures at Number 10 are said to have had “discussions” about campaign planning in the event Theresa May fails to clinch a Brexit deal — or get one through Parliament.
Private talks are reported to have taken place following the disastrous summit at Salzburg on Thursday.
But Downing Street said last night: “It is categorically not true that Number 10 is planning for an election or has held any meetings to discuss one.”
It comes amid reports quoting anonymous aides to Theresa May hinting that an election is on the cards as she looks to strike back after the Salzburg humiliation.
One told the that an election is now the only possible way to "make the Commons arithmetic work" and push through Brexit — with or without the Chequers proposals.
A source told the paper: "It is being discussed seriously.
"As things stand, even if we get a deal with the EU, it is hard to see us getting any agreement through the Commons.
"Either the Brexiteers or the Remainers would stop it. We are running out of options."
And according to the , a senior Tory strategist was overheard telling a colleague: "What are you doing in November - because I think we are going to need an election".
The soft-Brexit blueprint thrashed out by Mrs May and her ministers at her country retreat was last week ripped up by her EU counterparts.
It prompted the PM to deliver a scathing address on Friday in which she blasted Euro bullies for not paying the UK enough "respect" to negotiate fairly.
A member of Mrs May's inner circle also claimed to Cabinet colleagues she is preparing to step down next summer — to fend off a leadership election until after Brexit.
Stewart Jackson, former chief of staff to David Davis, the ex-Brexit Secretary who quit of the Chequers proposals, said the PM had 10 days to save her premiership.
He told the Times: "She needs to use her conference speech to show she can think imaginatively on Brexit, otherwise she will be facing a leadership challenge very soon."
Reports also claim that Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab was told by EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier that the UK could only choose "off-the-peg" arrangements with Europe post Brexit.
These could mirror the models used by Norway, Canada, Ukraine or Switzerland — and the EU would do the UK a political favour by selling the deal to the public as "bespoke" to Britain.
But the reported offer was said to have been turned down as it would "fool no one".
'Off-the-peg' Brexit: Other countries' deals with the EU that Britain could be lumped with
Canada: Not in the Single Market or Customs Union but has free-trade deal with the EU
Norway: Has access to the Single Market but agrees to rules like Freedom of Movement. Not in the Customs Union or EU institutions
Switzerland: Trade arrangements with the EU are through a lengthy series of treaties. Part of the Single Market
Ukraine: Has an "association deal" with the EU that covers economic, legal and regulatory matters - and leaves the door open to Freedom of Movement
Mrs May's Brexit adviser Olly Robbins was said to be being blamed for failing to gauge the mood of EU leaders ahead of the Salzburg summit.
It faltered over the key issues of the Irish border and customs arrangements.
The Tories now enjoy a four-point lead over Labour as the opposition continues to bungle its Brexit approach.
And Jeremy Corbyn's popularity among supporters is plummeting, polling suggests.
He has an approval rating of 63 per cent among those who voted Labour in 2017 — down from 86 per cent in June last year.
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But despite the Number 10 denial, speculation of an election will still cause concern among many Tory MPs after the PM's snap election disaster last year.
Her gamble to try to strengthen the Tories' hold on Parliament backfired when her majority was slashed by 13 seats.
It put the Conservatives below the 326 seats needed to form a Government — leading her to buy the support of Northern Ireland's DUP in a £1billion supply-and-demand deal to keep them in power.
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