Brexit: Free vote fiasco as Theresa May caves to Cabinet rebels

Under pressure on Brexit: Theresa May

A weakened Theresa May was forced by her Cabinet to give a free vote to MPs and ministers on a Plan B for Brexit in the wake of last night’s shattering defeat of her own deal.

A senior government source said the Prime Minister had agreed that there will be a free vote on the “Malthouse Compromise”. However, it looked as if Mrs May was holding out against a free vote on another amendment that would rule out a no deal on any date.

In this morning’s Cabinet meeting, at least  four Brexiteer ministers — Gavin Williamson, Chris Grayling, Andrea Leadsom and Liam Fox — demanded a free vote for MPs and ministers on the so-called Malthouse Compromise.

Other ministers were said to be pushing for a free vote on an amendment put down by former Tory chairwoman Dame Caroline Spelman and Labour MP Jack Dromey that sought to go further than Mrs May by ruling out no deal on any date.

The chaos in Mrs May’s Cabinet erupted after a shattered Prime Minister told the Commons she would allow a free vote this afternoon for Tory MPs on a motion to rule out a no-deal Brexit on March 29, when Brexit is due.

But it soon appeared that Mrs May had opened a Pandora’s Box that quickly highlighted her ebbing authority.  Mr Williamson warned of “severe consequences” for the Tories if MPs were barred from showing their support for the Malthouse blueprint, a form of managed no deal.

Astonishingly, as Cabinet began there was still no decision from No 10 on whether MPs and ministers would be allowed a free vote on any amendments. 

Businesses hit out bitterly at the chaos and uncertainty created by the Government’s handling of Brexit. The Confederation of British Industry’s Carolyn Fairbairn protested on Radio 4’s Today programme: “This is no way to run a country.”

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen told the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire show: “I think we need a new prime minister and a general election.”

The disarray follows the second defeat by 149 votes last night of Mrs May’s Brexit blueprint after her DUP allies and 75 Conservative MPs rebelled.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *