THERESA May faces a new Brexit challenge over calls to allow Conservative MPs a free vote on various options being put forward on the way ahead.
On the one hand, ministers are urging her to allow colleagues a free choice on backing an amendment to avoid a no-deal Brexit by extending the Article 50 process.
However, on the other, grassroot party members are warning the Prime Minister that they would stage a “mutiny” against her if she gave into pressure to rule out a no-deal outcome.
Amber Rudd, the Work and Pensions Secretary, has called on the Prime Minister to allow all Tory MPs a free vote on extending Article 50. She has warned that as many as 40 members of the Government would resign after next week’s indicative Commons vote if Conservative colleagues were prevented from voting for a plan to stop Britain crashing out of the EU without an agreement.
Robert Buckland, the Solicitor General, also made clear he would support MPs being granted free votes on Brexit issues if it became clear it was impossible to reach a consensus on a deal.
The Swindon MP said that if in the days ahead the Government was unable to rally behind a particular approach, which it could take to Brussels, then there was a “strong argument for parliamentarians to in effect replicate the positions that we all took in the referendum, which were not on party lines as we all know, and to exercise a vote according to what their views are and the views of their constituents and businesses and what they judge to be in the national interest”.
He added: "That could be on a range of issues from second referendums through to no-deal through to what type of future relationship we want."
But one senior Tory insider told the PoliticsHome website: “If no-deal was taken off the table, there would be a mutiny among the grassroots; it would go down extremely badly.”
He warned that in such circumstances it would be a “real challenge” to get party activists out in any snap general election.
“There are lots of ways of registering disapproval like withdrawing labour and making life difficult,” added the source.
Another activist admitted he had been avoiding campaigning and was “disgusted” at Mrs May’s weak leadership. “Tories don't like weak leaders,” he declared.
It has been suggested that Julian Smith, the Government Chief Whip Smith, will make a final decision on the free vote issue later this week but Whitehall insiders said they would be “very surprised” if Mrs May allowed MPs to do what they wanted on such a vital issue as Brexit.
She is hoping that a majority back a move to put a time-limit on the Irish backstop, so she can persuade Brussels to give ground, enabling her to get a new, improved deal through the Commons next month.
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