Ministers 'planning for early election' as Theresa May told to calm backlash over court ruling

Political reporter(wp/es):

Conservative ministers are reportedly preparing for an early general eleciton after Theresa May's government faced a blow in its plans for Brexit. 

The Prime Minister may call an election in order to be given a mandate to pull Britain out of the EU, the Daily Telegraph reported. 

The newspaper said the prospect of a vote is being "openly discussed" by ministers after this week's developments.

It comes after Mrs May was rocked by the resignation of a pro-Brexit Conservative MP over "irreconcilable policy differences". Stephen Phillips announced he was quitting over the Government's failure to appreciate the need to consult Parliament over Brexit.

There have also been calls for Mrs May to take action to calm the backlash sparked by a controversial High Court decision that Parliament must vote for Article 50 – by which the process of withdrawing from the EU begins – to be invoked. 

Former ministers have warned the Prime Minister she must "make clear" that the independence of the judiciary is a fundamental element of British democracy after judges came under attack from pro-Brexit MPs.

But Bob Neill, the Conservative chairman of the justice select committee, said the attacks were "threatening the independence of our judiciary" and had "no place in a civilised land".

He told The Times: "Some of the things which have been said about the court's judgment by politicians have been utterly disgraceful.

"All ministers from the Prime Minister down must now make clear that the independence of the judiciary is fundamental to our democracy. You have to respect that even if you think they have got a decision wrong.

"Some members of Parliament do not appear to understand that this judgment had nothing do with subverting the will of the people."

Former attorney general Dominic Grieve described the attacks as "chilling and outrageous" and "smacking of the fascist state".

Anna Soubry, a former minister and prominent Remain campaigner, said some media reports were "inciting hatred".

"I think we have to call this out and say 'not in my name'," she told the Guardian.

"It needs somebody like Boris Johnson to step up and speak out. He's our Foreign Secretary and he knows what the reaction of the rest of the world is as they look at our great country and are horrified. What message are we sending out to the rest of the world? Probably that this nation is in grave danger of losing the plot - and I think we might have done".