'She's f***** us': Two ministers quit after Theresa May opens door to Labour collaboration
Tories have continued to vent their intense anger at Theresa May over her decision to meet with Jeremy Corbyn for talks over the Brexit deadlock.
Two ministers quit in protest today with a host of Tory MPs also speaking out. One, Caroline Johnson, highlighted what she called “the risk of letting down the country and ushering in a Marxist, anti-Semite-led government”.
Mrs May said on Tuesday that she would seek an extension beyond next week to allow negotiations with the Labour leader aimed at getting a Brexit deal through Parliament.
Mr Corbyn said he would be “very happy” to meet the Prime Minister in a bid to offer “certainty and security” to the British people – but Tory Brexiteers have reacted with anger.
Mr Corbyn said his demands in Brexit talks would be a customs union with the EU and access to markets, as well as protecting consumer and environmental standards and workers’ rights and guaranteeing the Good Friday Agreement.
However, he stopped short of demanding a second referendum, despite huge pressure from MPs in his own party.
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay admitted today that another Brexit vote is an option on the table in the talks between two leaders.
Mrs May met Mr Corbyn on Wednesday afternoon before holding talks with Nicola Sturgeon, who warned that she wasn’t “entirely clear” where the PM was prepared to compromise.
Brexiteer backlash
Eurosceptic Tories said that the PM “has f***** us” for seeking a softer Brexit with the Labour leader.
Two members of the Brexit-backing European Research Group (ERG) told Sky News: “This is serious stuff. She has f***** our party. She is f***ing Brexit. She is f***ing the country.”
They added: “She is getting this through off the back of opposition votes. What is the point of being the government?
“This is all about her rotten legacy and she doesn’t care what she screws in the process, including the public interest and party she goes on so much about.”
Following yesterday’s cabinet, this morning I’ve been to Downing Street & resigned my position as UK Govt Minister for Wales & Govt Whip. I’m grateful to the PM for the opportunity to serve as a Minister since 2017 & will continue to serve my constituents from the backbenches. pic.twitter.com/W15xS4cOBP
— Nigel Adams MP (@nadams) April 3, 2019
Nigel Adams, the minister for Wales and the Government Whip this morning resigned in what he fears will be a “failure” to deliver Brexit.
He said that a deal “cooked up with a Marxist” was now seen as better than no deal.
Junior Brexit minister Chris Heaton-Harris also resigned over Theresa May’s handling of Brexit, setting out his support for a no-deal Brexit.
Coming to May’s defence
Environment Secretary Michael Gove said he backed the talks with Labour because he wants to leave the EU.
He told BBC Two’s Newsnight: “One of my concerns has been that there are people within the House of Commons who want to frustrate that referendum mandate – there are people who want to do everything possible to prevent us leaving – and I wanted to ensure that minds are concentrated so that we do leave.”
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‘An utter disaster’
Prominent Brexiteers lined up to lash out at the PM for choosing to extend Brexit yet again and seeking talks with the Labour leader.
Jacob Rees-Mogg described the offer to Mr Corbyn as “deeply unsatisfactory” and accused Mrs May of planning to collaborate with “a known Marxist”.
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson said: “It is very disappointing that the Cabinet has decided to entrust the final handling of Brexit to Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party.”
As it is, we now face the ridiculous possibility of being forced to contest the European elections more than three years after leaving the EU and having to agree to exit terms that in no way resemble what the people were promised when they voted to leave
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 2, 2019
Iain Duncan Smith said the plan was “an utter disaster”, adding: “We are just about to legitimise Corbyn. It’s appalling.”
Others were equally as scathing – and hinted they would even go as far as voting against her in a confidence vote.
Tory Brexiteer MP Andrea Jenkyns told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Would I vote against her in a no confidence? That takes a lot of thinking about.
“I don’t want Jeremy Corbyn to get into Number 10.
“I firmly believe Jeremy Corbyn is unlikely to work with the Prime Minister because he just wants chaos and he wants to get into Number 10 so it’s not to his benefit to work with the Prime Minister.”
The DUP said it “remains to be seen if sub-contracting out the future of Brexit to Jeremy Corbyn, someone whom the Conservatives have demonised for four years, will end happily”.
EU’s reaction
European Parliament Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt welcomed Mrs May’s offer of talks with Mr Corbyn.
He tweeted: “Good that PM @theresa_may is looking for a cross-party compromise. Better late than never.”
European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the EU would accept an extension to May 22 if the UK had approved Mrs May’s Withdrawal Agreement by a “viable majority” before April 12.
But speaking in Brussels, he said a no-deal Brexit at the end of next week was becoming “more and more likely”, adding: “April 12 is the final date for possible approval. If the House of Commons does not adopt a stance before that date no short-term extension will be possible.”
If the European Council proposes an extension beyond May 22, it is understood that it would be possible for the UK to take the steps necessary to prepare for European Parliament elections on May 23, but then cancel them at the last minute if the withdrawal deal was ratified.
