Tory Remainers ready to force Theresa May to sack them over No Deal Brexit vote
Theresa May's Brexit headache is growing as 12 ministers believe they should not have to resign to defy the Government in crunch Commons vote
SENIOR TORY ‘Remainers’ are ready to force Theresa May to sack them over a crunch No Deal vote.
Sources claim a growing number of Ministerial aides and junior Ministers believe they shouldn’t have to resign to defy the Government and block a No Deal in the crunch Commons vote on February 27.
It was claimed up to 12 Ministers were prepared to defy the PM to sack them in a fortnight’s time.
One told The Sun that they believe it’s now become a “conscience vote” and they would be backed up by the Ministerial code - given the damage a No Deal will cause.
They said: “There’s all this talk about resignations but there is growing feeling that if we break the whip they should have to sack us.
“Under the code we cannot knowingly do anything which is disadvantageous and it’s quite clear that a No Deal would be exactly that.”
Amber Rudd fuelled further speculation over her future after repeatedly dodging resignation questions when challenged.
The Work and Pensions Secretary stunned Westminster last month by claiming up to 40 Cabinet Ministers, junior ministers and party parliamentary secretaries could quit if they weren’t allowed the freedom to block a No Deal.
RUDD 'COULD QUIT'
Challenged about a possible resignation at the end of the month, Ms Rudd said: “I’m going to work with the Prime Minister and colleagues to get the Withdrawal Agreement through.”
Business Minister Richard Harrington has been on the cusp of quitting for weeks.
Typically any MP who defies the voting orders sent down by party chiefs has to quit their frontbench position.
But Labour failed to sack a number of its MPs who backed the Government on Brexit at the end of last month.
Labour’s Yvette Cooper and Tory veteran Oliver Letwin are expected to force the issue on February 27 by tabling an amendment to the next Brexit vote demanding Article 50 is extended to avoid a No Deal on March 29.
Sources claim a large number of Cabinet Ministers would back the amendment if it appeared there was no other option.
In an extraordinary intervention on Thursday, Mr Letwin said it was now clear to him that Parliament would have to take over the Brexit process.
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He said it was clear that “when the chips are down” the Prime Minister and the Government will side with the Brexit wing of the party and opt for a No Deal over closer ties with Brussels.
No.10 has repeatedly argued that No Deal has to remain on the table as a negotiating ploy with the EU.
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