Amber Rudd would quit Cabinet if PM stops her backing plans to rule out No Deal Brexit in extraordinary revolt
Other Tories have claimed that Business Ministers Richard Harrington and Margot James are also poised to walk out over No10's alleged plans to block a No Deal Brexit
AMBER RUDD signalled she’ll quit if Theresa May stops her from backing plans to rule out a No Deal Brexit.
In an extraordinary Cabinet revolt, the Work and Pensions Secretary demanded a “free vote” on the so-called Cooper-Boles amendment which calls for a Brexit delay.
And she refused three times to rule out resigning if No10 insists Ministers have to vote against the plan.
It came as Philip Hammond incensed Brexiteers by saying a No Deal would be a “betrayal” of the 2016 Referendum.
Speaking in Davos the Chancellor said a No Deal would “undermine prosperity and equally undermine the referendum”.
Downing Street was left insisting that Theresa May was “of course” in charge.
Furious Eurosceptic Tories said the pair should “come clean” about trying to prevent Brexit and remain in the EU.
Ex-Tory party leader Iain Duncan Smith said: “Anybody who wants to vote for the Cooper-Boles amendment should be honest. They want to stop Brexit.”
BREXIT WALK OUT
Labour said Mr Hammond “must now surely consider his position” because of his differences with the Prime Minister.
Amber Rudd last weekend warned No.10 that dozens of Ministers could quit their post to be able to back the Cooper-Boles plan.
Tories said they believed Business Ministers Richard Harrington and Margot James could also go.
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Ms Rudd said she had “called for a free vote” on the plan.
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Challenged if she would leave her post if there wasn’t one, she replied: “We’ll have to wait and see.” Asked once more if she would resign to avoid a No Deal she replied: “I am just going to carry on making my points in my work.”
Challenged once more if she would ruled out resigning, she said: “I’m going to wait and see.”
The astonishing comments came hours after it emerged a group of 20 ministers including Mr Hammond and Ms Rudd met last week to discuss ways to stopping a No Deal.
Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood – another member – said he was also prepared to resign if the Government pursues a No Deal.
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