Brexiteer Penny Mordaunt demands Theresa May ask EU for transition period to allow No Deal Brexit without destabilising economy
The Development Secretary issued her demand ahead of a Cabinet meeting to urge for the need of a Plan B if May's deal is voted down by MPs
CABINET Brexiteer Penny Mordaunt broke ranks to demand Theresa May opens no deal Brexit talks with the EU now.
In a clear challenge to the PM’s authority, the Development Secretary insisted the UK should ask Brussels for a stand alone transition period that would allow no deal to take place without damaging the economy.
A “managed glidepath” of up to two years will mean any future trading relationship will be ok for businesses – including WTO terms - she will argue.
Ms Mordaunt issued her demand ahead of a potentially explosive Cabinet meeting about the need for a Plan B if Mrs May deal falls in the Commons next month.
Panic is growing among the PM’s most senior ministers over her insistence in pressing on with trying to win Commons support for her deal without making any back up plan.
The Sun can also reveal that four of her most senior Cabinet ministers – Philip Hammond, Amber Rudd, David Gauke and Greg Clarke - asked to see Mrs May to try to persuade her to hold an ‘indicative vote’.
The foursome held a meeting in No10 with the PM to push for non- binding vote in the Commons to discover if an alternative type of Brexit would win a majority.
But No10 publicly slapped the move down, insisting that there were “no plans” for it.
Ms Mordaunt has already given her private backing to a Brexiteer plan to agree a transition of around two years with the EU in exchange for £20bn - half the current divorce bill - and then leave on WTO terms.
Delivering the annual Ronald Reagan Lecture, Ms Mordaunt said: “What do people mean by no deal? Do they mean no trade deal agreed?
“Or do they mean no arrangement in place for us continuing to operate as we have been at the borders?
“The chief concern businesses have in my constituency about no deal would be the absence of a smooth and managed glidepath to future trading relationships.
“It’s in our interest, and the interest of every member state of the EU, that we have a smooth transition and that is what we should be focusing on in the immediate future.”
Ms Rudd even went as far as signalling a second EU referendum must remain an option if the PM’s Brexit deal is voted down.
The Work and Pensions Secretary said “all options” should remain on the table if Mrs May’s agreement is rejected in the New Year.
She said: “After that we need to find out the will of Parliament is, where the majority of MPs will vote in Parliament and nothing should be off the table.
“We should consider all options.”
But Brexit-backing Ministers vowed to demand the PM would slap down the suggestion when Cabinet meets.
One ally of Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom said: “Andrea’s worried that Brexit is under threat.
“And she is quite clear that a second referendum will only ever happen over her dead body – it’s an absolute red line for her.”
Ms Leadsom is expected to urge the PM to amend her Brexit deal to give Parliament an annual veto on the ‘backstop’.
The PM hit out at ministers for going public to freelance on their preferred alternative Brexit outcomes.
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She told the Commons: “I know that there are a range of very strongly held personal views on this issue across the House. And I respect all of them.
“But expressing our personal views is not what we are here to do.
“We asked the British people to take this decision.
“Now we must honour our duty to finish the job.”
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