DEAL DRAMA Theresa May set to rule out No-Deal Brexit after 15 ministers threaten to quit if she doesn’t open door to a delay
Allies of the PM say she has come to the conclusion that the personal U-turn is the only way to avoid a 'catastrophic' defeat by a Remain ministers’ rebellion
By Tom Newton Dunn, Political Editor
25th February 2019, 10:00 pm
Updated: 25th February 2019, 11:22 pm
THERESA May will tomorrow propose to Cabinet that she formally rules out a No Deal Brexit on March 29, opening the door to a delay.
The decision will mean putting off Britain’s EU exit by weeks or months if MPs still haven’t passed a new divorce agreement in two weeks time.
Theresa May will propose formally ruling out a No Deal Brexit — which could lead to delaying Britain's March 29 EU exit by months
On Monday night, three "Remain" Ministers warned as many as 15 could quit if she fails to commit to delaying Brexit.
Business Minister Richard Harrington, Energy Minister Claire Perry and Digital Minister Margot James echoed a dire warning from Amber Rudd, David Gauke and Greg Clark on Friday night.
They said they were fully prepared to back a Commons move led by Yvette Cooper. And they called on the PM to commit to extending Article 50 if she loses the next Meaningful Vote on March 12.
Mrs May's highly controversial move will infuriate hardline Tory Leavers.
CATASTROPHIC DEFEAT
But allies of the PM say she has come to the difficult conclusion that the personal U-turn is the only way to avoid a “catastrophic” defeat by a Remain ministers’ rebellion.
In a bid to calm Brexiteers’ fury, Mrs May still wants to keep the option of No Deal alive for later in the year as negotiating pressure on Brussels.
Aides were split over whether the PM should make the major concession directly when she addresses the Commons after Cabinet, or just agree to be bound by a future vote for it by MPs.
At a summit in Egypt today, Mrs May was still publicly opposing any Article 50 extension, insisting: “A delay doesn’t deliver a deal”.
But No10 is now sure that Remain Tory ministers along with dozens of backbenchers comfortably have the numbers to defeat the Government in a showdown Commons vote on Wednesday.
PAVES WAY FOR BREXIT DELAY
Unless the PM acts, as many as 60 Tory MPs are expected to back a cross party bid lead by Labour’s Yvette Cooper and Tory grandee Sir Oliver Letwin to enforce a Brexit delay to avoid a No Deal cliff edge in just 31 days time.
A senior Government source who is aware of the PM’s thinking said: “The decision for her now is how to avoid the worst case scenario, not what do we want to do.
“That worst case scenario is losing control of Brexit if Cooper-Letwin passes, and that would be catastrophic.
"There will be a very big row, but nobody can say the PM hasn’t tried her best to stop this.”
BID TO HALT REMAINER REBELS
No10 expects a “very rocky” meeting of the Cabinet this morning during its regular weekly gathering.
But key figures such as Environment Secretary Michael Gove are expected to back the PM’s move, as it heaps massive pressure on Brexiteer rebels to back a new EU deal when she puts it to a final vote on March 12.
Mr Gove and others are also said to fear that Britain is not prepared enough yet to handle a No Deal Brexit in a month’s time.
She will also be backed Chancellor Philip Hammond and her de facto deputy Cabinet Office minister David Lidington, as well as the four Cabinet ministers threatening to rebel - Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd, Business Secretary Greg Clark, Justice supremo David Gauke and Scotland boss David Mundell.
One Remain minister also told The Sun that he now believes Mrs May has finally resolved to take on Tory Brexiteer hardliners with the decision to delay Brexit if need be.
The minister - one of up to 30 who has vowed to rebel - said: “Theresa is going to have to confront the ERG eventually.
“I believe that will happen now. Everything I’ve heard from her in the last week suggests she is ready, and she will take no deal on March 29 off the table. That is what we have to hear from here, nothing less.”
