Labour MPs dash Theresa May’s hope of forcing Chequers deal through parliament

Pic:Prime Minister Theresa May's hopes of getting her Chequers Brexit deal through Parliament have been dashed ( EPA )
Political reporter,London(wp/es):

Theresa May’s hopes of forcing her Chequers blueprint through Parliament with the help of Labour Remainers were dashed today.

A survey of opposition MPs by the Evening Standard, covering backbenchers and shadow cabinet members, reveals outright opposition to the Prime Minister’s plans for leaving the European Union. It means her chances of rescuing her proposals may rely on whips averting a rebellion.

Leading Brexiteers today complained that the whips, led by Julian Smith, were already “shouting at and bullying” Tory backbenchers in an effort to impose discipline ahead of a potential EU deal. They claim that up to 80 MPs are prepared to rebel if Chequers is put to a vote, although pro-EU Tories estimate the number to be less than half that.

In theory, it would take only six Conservatives to vote against Chequers to see the Government defeated, but some Tories believe Labour might split if the Commons was given a “take it or leave it” ultimatum of accepting Mrs May’s plan or crashing out with no deal.

However, leading Remainer Chuka Umunna told the Standard: “There is no Labour Remainer I know of who would support Theresa May’s Chequers deal or prop up her government — full stop.”

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer indicated that Labour would not accept the plan without significant changes. “If the Prime Minister thinks Labour MPs will simply wave through her fatally flawed Chequers plan or give her a blank cheque to crash the economy, then she has another thing coming,” he said.

Former minister Chris Leslie, another leading pro-EU MP on the backbenches, said: “Chequers ignores 80 per cent of our economy by leaving the service sector in the lurch, with unrealistic proposals for customs and the removal of Britain’s voice from around the table in Europe.”

A No 10 source denied that Mrs May had ever relied on opposition MPs to win a vote on the Chequers plan. “What we have said is that it is the only credible deal on the table that delivers on Brexit,” he said. 

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, a Brexiteer, said the whips were out in force. He added: “The Government seems to think the enemy is in our own party. Instead of telling MPs to shut up and vote for whatever comes back from the talks in Brussels, they need to recognise that the party is beyond that — both in Parliament and in the country.” 

Speaking to the ConservativeHome website, Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg accused No 10 of authorising criticism of Boris Johnson by ministers at the weekend. 

Banking chiefs have also warned of the risks to the City from the Chequers plans. They voiced “disappointment” that the blueprint had not pursued a close “mutual recognition” system for financial services with the EU.

The Commons Treasury committee was told that the Government is very unlikely to be able to reach a deal on financial services before Brexit Day next March and that there was a lack of “clarity” and “certainty” on its proposals.”