Tuesday, 19 Nov 2024

Theresa May is about to unveil her Brexit Plan B – and it’s already sparked fury

Theresa May faces a furious backlash today as she prepares to reveal her Plan B for Brexit.

Speaking from 3.30pm on ‘Blue Monday’, supposedly most depressing day of the year, the Prime Minister will tell MPs her next steps after her Brexit deal suffered the biggest defeat in Commons history.

But in a phone call with the Cabinet from Chequers last night, she’s said to have claimed her plan will simply be another version of Plan A.

In other words, getting concessions on the Irish ‘backstop’.

Mrs May has already been trying to rework the backstop – which could trap the UK under EU customs rules in order to keep the Irish border open – for more than a month.

And it shows she’s shifted her approach back to winning over Tory and DUP rebels – despite announcing ‘cross-party’ talks just days ago.

She reportedly told her Cabinet "something" must be done to fix the backstop but was "light on specifics" with "no actual solutions" proposed.

And one plan was shot down today before she even stood up.

Mairead McGuinness, Fine Gael MEP and vice president of the European Parliament, said reports of a new treaty between the UK and Ireland to replace the Irish backstop were "not an option".

She told the BBC: "Ireland is part of the European Union.

"The idea that one country of the 27 would have this particular arrangement with the United Kingdom, separate from what the EU does, really is not an option.

"I was quite surprised when I read the speculation yesterday."

Labour MP Chris Bryant fumed: "Plan B is Plan A.

"Even after losing by 230 votes in the biggest defeat in parliamentary history, Mrs May insists on appeasing the right of her party rather than uniting the country."

Mrs May won some support from former Brexit Department aide Eddie Hughes, who said: "I think if she comes up with a way of making sure that we can either leave unilaterally or making some sort of sunset clause on the backstop then that will go a long way to allaying my fears.

"And I would think the DUP would be keen to be involved as well then."

And Tory ministers have renewed warnings they will resign if she pursues No Deal Brexit as a main strategy. One, Richard Harrington, said No Deal could shut Mini and Jaguar in an "absolute disaster for the country."

But Labour are demanding enters talks over a customs union with the EU – something she has now signalled she will rule out.

Jeremy Corbyn also boycotted talks with Mrs May because she refused to rule out a no deal Brexit.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady suggested the PM had shown bad faith, saying: "She needs to shift gear.

"She needs to show some good faith – that she’s not just opening her door but opening her mind and her ears."

Mrs May is said to be so desperate that No10 aides are considering a plan to rewrite parts of the Good Friday Agreement.

And starting today, MPs will start to unveil a string of amendments to push forward their own Plan B.

Many have talked about extending the March 29 date of Brexit and a vote on the next steps will be held on Tuesday 29 January.

Boris Johnson said if the Brexit date was delayed, "the reaction would be a vicious and unparalleled contempt for the whole political class."

The Tory wrote of MPs in the Daily Telegraph: "By seeming so blatantly to go against the wishes of the electorate, they will contribute to a very damaging feeling of a gap – and a growing gap – between the public and the political elite.”

But union chief Ms O’Grady also called for the 29 March Brexit date to be delayed saying: "We’ve always said the people should have the final say on the deal either through a general election or a popular vote."

She added: "I can see this government collapsing under its own contradictions."

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Latest Brexit news

  • Fury as May to unveil Brexit Plan B
  • Good Friday agreement could be rewritten
  • £171,000 an hour spent on no-deal
  • Keir Starmer would back Remain
  • Lammy: MPs ‘could desert Labour’
  • What EU citizens must do to stay
  • How your MP voted in record defeat
  • What will No Deal really mean?

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