BBC News presenter Simon McCoy claimed the UK is already in enough “chaos” after it was announced Theresa May agreed to set the date of her departure after next month’s crunch Brexit vote as she tries to get her withdrawal agreement through the House of Commons. Joey Jones, Mrs May’s former spokesperson, described the announcement following the Prime Minister’s meeting with the Conservative Party’s influential 1922 Committee as a “transition” before she eventually steps down as leader. Mr Jones suggested Mrs May’s deal would not pass in the Commons again prompting BBC host McCoy to say: “The option she has, if she still wants to come out with anything is to say, ‘I will do this on my terms’.

“She comes out on the steps of Downing Street and says ‘I resign now’.

Mr Jones replied: “I think that would be seen as reckless.

“The Conservative Party and the nation would reproach her for doing something that would throw the whole country into complete chaos.”

The BBC News host quickly interrupted the Prime Minister’s former spokesman. McCoy raged: “Joey, the country is in complete chaos.”

Joey, the country is in complete chaos

BBC News’ Simon McCoy

Mr Jones replied: “The country is in paralysis at the moment. It is not in the sort of utter chaos that would be the result of something like that.

“She has basically committed herself to some sort of a transition. Now, people might not like that transition but it at least does lead the way towards somebody else coming in and taking over the ranks.

“Just to throw in the towel, I don’t think people would be very forgiving.”

McCoy questioned why the Prime Minister did not just “cut and run” with the European elections scheduled on May 23 and the Conservative Party unlikely to be successful.

Mr Jones insisted if that had been the Prime MInister’s “demeanour”, then “should would have done it before”.

On Thursday, the Prime Minister met with the 18-strong executive of the Conservative Party’s influential 1922 Committee, representing Tory backbenchers, amid calls for Mrs May to set out a roadmap to her departure.

Mrs May had already said she would step down before the next phase of Brexit negotiations, but faced calls to resign even if her deal failed to pass through the Commons.

After the meeting, chairman of the 1922, Sir Graham Brady, said: “The Prime Minister is determined to secure our departure from the European Union and is devoting her efforts to securing the second reading of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill in the week commencing 3rd June 2019 and the passage of that Bill and the consequent departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union by the Summer.

“We have agreed that she and I will meet following the 2nd Reading of the Bill to agree a timetable for the election of a new leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party.”

Mrs May told members of the backbench Conservative 1922 Committee that she would stand down in time for someone else to take the reins for the second phase of the negotiations.

She said: “I know there is a desire for a new approach – and new leadership – in the second phase of the Brexit negotiations – and I won’t stand in the way of that.”

Before the meeting had even finished, Boris Johnson officially announced he’ll run for the leadership.

The former foreign secretary told a business event in Manchester: “I’m going to go for it. Of course I’m going to go for it.”

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