Brexiters give PM three weeks to close Brexit deal and pledge their support in event of Labour no-confidence vote in the Government
Eurosceptics have pledged to support Theresa May until her Brexit deal Commons vote, with the DUP also promising to support her if Labour submits a formal no-confidence motion against the Government
TORY BREXITEERS yesterday gave Theresa May a critical three more weeks to thrash out a deal with the EU in a shock Christmas truce.
Arch Eurosceptics vowed to gift her a “period of tranquillity” over Christmas as she announced a new date of the week beginning January 14 for the Commons vote on her Brexit deal.
Jacob Rees-Mogg shocked the Commons by saying he had “confidence” in the PM – just days after trying to force her out.
It came as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn last night tabled a motion of no confidence in the PM over her refusal to allow the Commons a ‘Meaningful Vote’ this week.
Opposition parties last night put down an amendment to make it a full blown confidence in the Government rather than simply Mrs May.
But last night Tory Brexiteers and the DUP vowed to support the PM even if Labour followed up with a formal no confidence vote against the Government as a whole.
DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds told The Sun: “Now’s not the time to be playing parliamentary games.”
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon fumed: “Labour tabling a motion just in the PM rather than in entire government begs the question – which Tory do they want to see as PM?”
Tory Eurosceptic sources claimed the marked change in tone towards the PM was a recognition of the fact she had survived last week’s no confidence vote from Tory MPs by 200 to 117 votes.
But they added with every passing day, they were closer to achieving a clean break from the EU on March 29 in a managed ‘No Deal’.
In a marathon Brexit debate yesterday, previously arch opponent Edward Leigh told the PM he could still vote for her deal if she secures a meaningful concession from the EU on the ‘backstop’.
Mr Rees Mogg then tweeted a video of his supportive comments in the Commons, with the words: “At Christmas, it is wrong to be a dog in the manger, that is where a baby belongs.”
Addressing the House yesterday, Mrs May insisted she could still win legal promises from the EU to make the hated Irish backstop palatable to MPs.
Mrs May told the House: “Discussions with my EU partners - including Presidents Tusk, Juncker and others - have shown that further clarification following the Council’s conclusions is in fact possible”.
The PM also insisted that EU leaders told her last week they “do not want to use the backstop”, and there is therefore “no plot to keep us in the backstop”
Mrs May also admitted to the Commons that her bust up in Brussels last week with Euro boss Jean Claude Juncker saw some “robust” exchanges.
But she added: “I make no apology for standing up for the interests of this house, and the whole of the United Kingdom”.
But the EU itself cast serious doubt on Mrs May’s claim that fresh discussions for the backstop assurances have already begun with Brussels officials.
An EU Commission spokesman said: “The deal that is on the table is the best and the only deal possible. We will not reopen it.
“So no further meetings with the UK are foreseen.”
There was fury with the PM from MPs on all sides for still refusing to put her deal to a vote this week.
Former Cabinet minister Justine Greening dubbed it “a constitutional crisis”.
Tory ally Jonathan Djanogly warned her she was “haemorrhaging” support among business leaders and the City.
MOST READ IN BREXIT
The SNP also slammed Mrs May’s delays.
Its Westminster leader Ian Blackford thundered: “It is time to call time on this Government. Parliament needs to take control of this situation”.
“We thought the PM had reached rock bottom but she is still digging.”
- GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]