Ministers urge Theresa May to make No Deal Brexit planning Whitehall’s TOP priority following her humiliation in Brussels
CABINET Ministers will next week demand Theresa May make No Deal planning Whitehall’s top priority following her humiliation in Brussels.
A group of Brexit-backers at the PM’s top table want the PM to agree to divert resources from other budget and significantly “ramp up” preparations.
This would include more money on IT systems, customs and stockpiling.
One Cabinet Minister told The Sun: “It has to become our core planning assumption otherwise nothing is going to happen.
“We have to show we’re serious – and we have to prepare.”
The group is believed to include Home Secretary Sajid Javid, Treasury Chief Secretary Liz Truss, Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom and Penny Mordaunt, the International Development Secretary.
Ms Mordaunt on Wednesday urged the PM to put “crack on” with No Deal planning after surviving her no confidence vote.
But the call will pitch the Cabinet into a bitter civil war given pressure from both the Chancellor and Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd to give Parliament an ‘indicative vote’ over what Brexit path to choose.
Under this plan, the Commons would be given a say on every possible outcome including a second Referendum.
It is backed by de-facto David Lidington and also Justice Secretary David Gauke and Business Secretary Greg Clark.
Your questions answered...
WHAT is a “managed No Deal”?
Britain would leave without a new free trade deal with the EU. But ministers would strike side deals with Brussels or EU nations in areas such as aviation, borders and financial services to avoid chaos.
WHAT are the benefits?
Supporters claim it allows a “smooth” departure while letting Britain strike trade deals with the world. In theory we would only pay a fraction of the £39billion divorce bill.
WHAT are the problems?
It still fails to solve the Irish border problem. Britain and Northern Ireland would sit outside the single market and customs union, meaning checks on goods to and from the Republic.
WHO is pushing the idea?
Brexit-backing Tories such as Andrea Leadsom and Jacob Rees-Mogg, and this week Brexit-backing businessmen.
WOULD the EU agree?
Brexiteers argue the PM has never got tough with the EU and if it was Britain “crashing out” or a managed No Deal, Brussels would be desperate to agree.
WOULD the PM agree?
She has repeatedly said it is her deal or nothing. Senior sources claim she is “terrified” of a No Deal in any form.
All three have indicated they could quit rather than support a No Deal. The crunch Cabinet meeting on Tuesday will come with little over 100 days left until Brexit on March 29.
Sources claimed Tory whips could bring forward the postponed Commons vote on the PM’s deal to next week given a growing clamour from opposition and Tory backbenchers. Sources admitted Ministers believe whatever happens the PM’s Brexit agreement is essentially “dead”.
It was scrapped last week because whips feared a thumping defeat. A senior Minister – who asked to remain anonymous – said the deadlock was leading some to study the idea of a ‘managed’ No Deal.
Under this exit, Britain would strike a number of side deals with the EU and member states to cushion the blow of an abrupt departure on March 29.
Insiders claimed Ms Mordaunt could champion this option as part of a leadership bid.
But Theresa May’s allies have been pushing for a second referendum to try and crush a Brexiteer ‘suicide squad’ who have threatened to side with Labour in a No Confidence vote to bring down the Tory government.
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The PM’s Chief of Staff Gavin Barwell and chief whip Julian Smith have discussed the possibility of a second referendum.
Labour’s Virendra Sharma said “bring it on”.
The Best for Britain champion said: “Westminster is now in deadlock about what to do next and so I believe we must throw this back to the people.”
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