Now BORIS backs May: PM’s arch rival folds and says he will now support her Brexit deal after spending months furiously trashing it – putting her closer than ever to success

• The prominent Theresa May critic announced to MPs he would not back her
• It follows months of vocal opposition and eight months after he quit Government
• Other hardline Brexiteers now falling into line behind PM amid fears of no Brexit 
• PM could hold a third meaningful vote this week to meet EU’s Friday deadline 
• But the DUP’s support remains critical – and they are so far silent on backing it

• e-mail

View
comments

Boris Johnson has sensationally switched sides tonight and will back Theresa May’s Brexit deal, he has told MPs.

The former foreign secretary quit over Theresa May’s handling of Brexit and as recently as this week said he could not support her.

But after she dramatically announced to MPs tonight she would step down if her withdrawal agreement was approved by Parliament he changed his mind.  

He announced his stunning reverse at a meeting of the hardline Brexiteer European Research Group this evening.

Bournemouth MP Conor Burns, a close ally of Mr Johnson, tweeted: ‘Boris Johnson absolutely right telling MPs that palpable risk of losing Brexit altogether with the chance of change in the next phase means we have little choice but to vote for the Withdrawal Agreement.’

 It came after a slew of Brexiteeers announced they would switch and support Mrs May after her capitulation to weeks of pressure to quit as the price of securing their support.

But her chances of winning a third meaningful vote if she calls one this week remain on a knife edge. 

Mrs May needs to find 75 more Tory votes if she tries to pass her deal at the third attempt, having lost by 149 last time.

The movement of Mr Johnson, a towering figure in Brexiteer ranks, will help a lot more MPs feel OK about switching.

But the Democratic Union Party’s support remains key, as the most militant ERG members will not back her unless their 10 Northern Irish are in the same voting lobby. 

Mr Johnson revealed his change of heart at a European Research Group meeting this evening, minutes after the Prime Minister had capitulated and agreed to step down if her Brexit deal becomes law

Boris Johnson loyalist Conor Burns defended the decision on Twitter 

Mrs may had earlier agreed to quit as the price of securing enough backing for her deal to win a Commons’ vote

Speaking outside the meeting of the backbench 1922 Committee ERG chairman Jacob Rees-Mogg said the DUP’s position was crucial, and if they merely abstained rather than outright opposing it again he would feel able to support the deal.

‘If the DUP abstained I would feel entitled to back it. If the DUP were still against it, I would not feel able to back it,’ he told reporters.     

Mr Johnson had yesterday signalled he could be willing to back the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal, but only if there was a path to then negotiate his preferred ‘Super Canada’ future trading relationship with the EU.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Telegraph, the former Foreign Secretary said he ‘was not there yet’ on backing May’s deal but admitted that there was a risk Britain ‘won’t leave the EU at all’ if MPs voted it down for a third time.

‘If we vote it down again there is an appreciable and growing sense that we will not leave at all. That is the risk,’ journalists at the event quoted him as saying.  

He was reportedly shouted down by members of the crowd who said ‘no Boris’.

Pauline Latham and Shailesh Vara changed sides to back the Prime Minister tonight, according to ITV News. 

And former culture minister John Whittingdale told Sky he would do the same.

• I will go… AFTER Brexit: May’s voice cracks as she says… May fires the starting gun on new Tory leadership race:…

Share this article

Jacob Rees-Mogg told reporters he could support Mrs May even if the DUP abstained – but not if they voted against her deal

Other senior Tory Brexiteers  hinted they could be prepared to back Theresa May’s Brexit.

Middlesbrough South MP Simon Clarke said Mrs May’s speech had ‘really changed the mood’ but declined to say how he would vote in a third meaningful vote.

But he added: ‘If I was a Remainer tonight I would be pretty worried.

‘I think the chances (of a deal passing) are the highest they have ever been.’

Welsh Tory Simon Hart said the PM had made a ‘passionate’ speech as if she had ‘torn up the script’.

He said the mood had been ‘somber’ as the PM announced she would leave, adding: ‘She was clear that providing the Withdrawal Agreement is passed she would start a process of an orderly handover (of power).’

Source: Read Full Article