Theresa May warns Brexit could be delayed for TWO more years if her deal is voted down
Westminster was left in pandemonium after a double Commons defeat over No Deal split the Government in two and pushed it to the verge of collapse
BRITAIN was plunged in Brexit purgatory last night as Theresa May dramatically warned MPs leaving the EU could be delayed for TWO years.
Outright pandemonium broke out in Westminster after a double Commons defeat over No Deal, which split the Goverment in two and pushing it to the verge of collapse.
In an extraordinary last roll of the dice, the PM said hardline Tories now have one last chance next week to vote for her EU deal in a THIRD maningful vote before Thursday’s crunch EU summit.
If they don’t, Mrs May said Brussels will carry out its recent threat to enforce a long delay that No10 signalled could last until 2021.
Her bombshell declaration came after the Government was narrowly defeated by a majority of just four when the Commons demanded No Deal be taken off the table permanently.
The rocking PM mounted a desperate bid to overturn that verdict, having only agreed to take No Deal off the table for March 29 and ask for a short delay.
But that sparked a devastating rebellion by 46 Remainer Tory MPs, who defied her three line whip to send Mrs May crashing down to a disastrous defeat by 321 v 278, a majority of 43.
In another appalling blow to the PM’s authority, 16 were members of the Government.
Twelve ministers and two Parliamentary Private Secretaries abstained - including five Cabinet ministers, lead by Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd.
And two voted against the Government - disability minister Sarah Newton and PPS Paul Masterton - and were forced to resign.
A massive row raged last night over whether No10 had secretly given permission to the senior ministers to abstain.
Downing Street refused to sack them.
The House needs to face up to the consequences of the decisions it has taken
Theresa May
There were scenes of complete chaos in the Commons’ division lobbies, with one Tory MP dubbing it “total carnage” and other Tory MPs seen breaking down in tears.
Some livid hardline Tory Brexiteers even vowed to sink Mrs May’s Government rather than allow her to enforce a two year Brexit delay.
One prominent Eurosceptic said: “If it comes to it, we’ll bring her down and her whole Government too if we have too”.
Only five Tory MPs would need to ally with Labour and the other opposition parties to defeat Mrs May in a no confidence vote.
Another Tory would then have two weeks to find a Commons majority or there will be a general election.
Reeling from the insurrection, Mrs May went on to immediately tell the Commons: “The House has today provided a clear majority against leaving without a deal.
“If the House finds a way in the coming days to support a deal it will allow the Government to seek a short, limited technical extension to Article 50 to provide time to pass the necessary legislation and ratify the agreement we have reached with the EU.
“But let me be clear – such a short technical extension is only likely to be on offer if there is a deal in place.
“Therefore this House has to understand and accept that if it is not willing to support a deal in the coming days, and as it is not willing to leave without a deal on 29 March, then it is suggesting there will need to be a much longer extension to Article 50.”
The PM made it clear the long delay would mean having to elect MEPs to a new European Parliament in May – a move that will cost the taxpayer £100m.
She added: “I do not think that would be the right outcome, but the House needs to face up to the consequences of the decisions it has taken”.
The PM’s official spokesman added: “She was setting out the simple facts of the situation. The EU will dictate its terms.
“She doesn’t believe a longer extension is the right way to go”
“But the house must understand the consequences of its actions. It has some big decisions to make.”
In an extraordinary act of defiance last night, leading Brexiteer Steve Baker warned the Government that the ERG will “keep voting” against the deal “however many times it’s brought back, whatever pressure we’re put under, come what may.”
The deputy ERG leader told Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom: “Please don’t do it, go back to the EU and say ‘it won’t pass’”.
MPs will vote again today over how long to extend Article 50 talks for, with no deal now ruled out by the Commons.
The PM also revealed she will ask the house today to delay Brexit until June 30, even if her deal is passed, to ensure there is enough time to pass all the necessary laws.
Scotland Secretary David Mundell told ITV News: “I’m not resigning because I support the Prime Minister in her course of action.
Her course of action is to leave with a deal in an orderly Brexit but I’m very clear that I don’t support a no deal Brexit and I’ve made that clear on numerous occasions.
“If you vote against the Government, as some ministers did this evening because you would resign and accept responsibility for doing that.”
One of the rebel ministers told The Sun: “The message came that it was okay to abstain”.
Another Tory minister who witnessed the scenes added: “Some are just being allowed by the whips to go the pub”.
But No10 sources insisted they had given nobody permission to rebel, and blamed the whips – igniting a bitter dispute in Downing Street itself.
A 21 month extension might well pass tomorrow - effectively the same as allowing a second referendum and Brexit could be over tomorrow night
MP in favour of Theresa May
Some backbenchers insisted Ms Rudd and the other ministerial rebels be sacked.
Senior Tory Brexiteer Mark Francois insisted: “Any Minister who now deliberately abstains must surely resign”.
A former Cabinet minister branded the refusal to discipline them “a f***ing disgrace”, adding: “If ministers who are unable to support the Government on a three line whip are allowed to remain in place, colleagues will never support three line whips ever again”.
The decision to allow abstentions triggered an extraordinary shouting match outside the Commons chamber.
One senior Brexiteer shouted across the lobby: “A Senior Brexiteer was heard shouting in the lobby about the abstentions: “Why haven’t they been sacked? It’s appalling.”
May loyalist Simon Hart said the “only course” for the Government to pursue was to call another Meaningful Vote in the hope the ERG would finally back the deal. He said: “All other roads go to hell.”
He said the PM fixed her Brexit rebels “with a beady eye” as she walked alongside them to vote in the final motion.
Mr Hart said there was a “feeling of gallows humour” in the Government voting lobby. He predicted the PM would battle on, saying: “She’s indestructible - no signs of wear and tear apart her voice. She won’t be deterred by this. “
But another MP loyal to the PM warned: “A 21 month extension might well pass tomorrow - effectively the same as allowing a second referendum and Brexit could be over tomorrow night”.
But hitting back for Remainers with his own blistering attack on No10, veteran ex-Chancellor Ken Clarke accused it of treating the Commons like “a Women’s Institute debate”.
We have agreed a deal with the Prime Minister and the EU is ready to sign it
European Commission Spokesperson
Mr Clarke said: “A free vote was extended to Ministers so proper expression could be given. But soon as the House expressed its opinion the Government attempted to quash it”.
An earlier bid by Brexiteer Tories to enforce managed No Deal – known as the Malthouse Compromise – was defeated by 374 v 164, a majority of 210.
Mrs May wanted to halt the move, but was forced to allow a free vote on it after a rebellion by Leaver Cabinet ministers.
A total of 149 Tory MPs backed the bid, in another humiliation for the PM, including Cabinet ministers Gavin Williamson, Liam Fox, Jeremy Hunt, Sajid Javid.
A European Commission Spokesperson said: “We take note of the votes in the House of Commons this evening. There are only two ways to leave the EU: with or without a deal.
“The EU is prepared for both. To take no deal off the table, it is not enough to vote against no deal - you have to agree to a deal. We have agreed a deal with the Prime Minister and the EU is ready to sign it.”
Ms Newton became the 15th Government minister to quit over Brexit in total.
- GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]