Over 75 per cent of the shameful Tory MPs who voted down the PM’s deal on ‘Brexit Day’ represent LEAVE constituencies

30.03.2019 05:06

TheSun.co.uk

BREXIT was plunged into severe doubt on the very day Britain was due to have left the EU, after MPs shot down Theresa May’s exit deal a third time.

In another crushing blow to the PM, 26 Tory hardline Brexiteers and eight Tory Remainers allied with Labour and others to defeat her by 344 v 286, a majority of 58.

The PM appeared visibly livid when she told those who did not support her deal that they had made a ‘grave’ decision

Philip Hammond and Tory Chief Whip Julian Smith appeared disappointed as they faced the PM after the Commons rejected her deal for a third time

The crucial 2.30pm vote’s outcome, during what was already an emergency session of Parliament, plunged Britain into an even darker political crisis.

The EU’s offer to extend the Article 50 process until May 22 expired at midnight as a result, leaving the UK facing a hard Brexit again at 11pm on April 12, just 13 days time.

But as the Commons will block a No Deal Brexit, the paralysing deadlock will instead go on, Mrs May warned.

Visibly livid, she told the Commons: “The implications of the House’s decision are grave. I think it should be a matter of profound regret to every member of this House that once again we have been unable to support leaving the European Union in an orderly fashion”.

And while No10 signalled that the PM will attempt a FOURTH vote to save her deal next week, she declared a long delay to Brexit of up to 12 months as well as having to hold fresh UK elections to the European Parliament on May 23 as “almost certain”.

Frustrated Mrs May also warned she was now close to calling a general election to end the impasse, issuing the thinly veiled threat to MPs: “I fear we are reaching the limits of this process in this House”.

MAY’S FURY AS WILL OF NATION DENIED

Minutes after the vote, EU Council President Donald Tusk announced he will hold another emergency summit of Europe’s 27 leaders on April 10. That is now the deadline for Britain to come up with a final answer over what Brexit it wants.

Delighted with their victory, Tory MP hardliners insisted it must now be No Deal. Tory arch-Eurosceptic leader and ex-minister Steve Baker called for Mrs May’s immediate head, and for her deal to consigned to history.

Mr Baker insisted: “It’s finished. And we must move on. I regret to say it is time for Theresa May to follow through on her words and make way so that a new leader can deliver a Withdrawal Agreement which will be passed by Parliament.”

A wafer-thin coalition of Brexiteer Labour MPs and defecting Tory hardliners looked close to taking Mrs May’s deal over the line on Wednesday night, after she dramatically agreed to her own MPs’ demands to step down in the summer.

There was Tory fury with John Bercow, who was accused of helping to sink the Brexit deal when he torpedoed a compromise bid with Labour MPs

Chuka Umunna and Angela Smith took a selfie as they waited to vote No to the PM’s Brexit deal

But around 20 wavering Labour MPs took fright after the DUP announced it would again refuse to vote with the PM because of the Irish backstop.

In a bitter disappointment to the PM, just five Labour MPs backed the government, just two more than the previous meaningful vote. That was despite all the efforts made and money spent by ministers to turn them in the past three months.

There was also Tory fury with John Bercow, who was accused of helping to sink the Brexit deal when he torpedoed a compromise bid with Labour MPs at the start of yesterday’s Commons debate.

The Speaker refused to accept an amendment tabled by Brexiteer Labour rebels for a Commons vote to set the terms for the next EU negotiation on the future relationship – a move that could have seen another 10 defections.

Attorney General Geoffrey Cox confirmed he would have accepted the amendment in full, but it wasn’t enough for the Labour rebels, lead by Lisa Nandy, who voted against the government.

Mrs May closed the debate, making a final impassioned plea. She told the chamber: “This is the last opportunity to guarantee Brexit. If you do not vote for this motion today, people will ask, ‘Why did you not vote for Brexit?’

“At this historic moment, it’s right to put aside self and party. That is what I have done. I have said I am prepared to leave this job earlier than intended to secure the right outcome for our country.”

A last minute rush of Brexiteer defections gave Mrs May hope and left whips thinking they were within a whisker of it passing.

Former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab announce his backing within two hours of the 2.30pm vote.

The Tory leadership hopeful told the Commons: “I cannot countenance an even longer extension and I cannot countenance holding European elections in May. I will vote for the motion”.

Boris Johnson, who switched after Theresa May agreed to stand down on Wednesday night again urged Tory MPs to back the deal, warning if they don’t of “the risk of being forced to accept an even worse version of Brexit or losing Brexit altogether”.

But the DUP’s pivotal 10 MPs – who are keeping Mrs May’s minority government in power – remained defiant, despite desperate last minute attempts by ministers to persuade them to turn.

The DUP’s Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson: “We have gone through a 30 year terrorist campaign. We’re not prepared to see our constitutional settlement changed by a fit of pique in Brussels.

Why would we vote today for a on trick that breaks up the United Kingdom? We have voted against it a first time, and a second time, and we will a third time, and we will continue to oppose it.”

“With the vote looking very tight at one stage, Jeremy Corbyn made a very rare appearance in the Commons tea room and was seen “schmoozing the troops.”

Mr Corbyn dubbed Mrs May’s deal “botched and half-baked”. Promising the Commons he could get a better one, the Labour leader said: “I urge all members on behalf of their constituents to vote down this deal”.

But Conservative Party Chairman Brandon Lewis hit back to insist Labour’s promise to honour the referendum result “lies in tatters”. He added: “Any pretence that Labour respects the will of the British people has evaporated”.

April 10 showdown

EU Council chief Donald Tusk said an emergency summit will be held on April 10 — where an extension of up to a year could be on the table.

Mr Tusk said leaders will meet to tee up a lengthy delay in response to Parliament voting down the PM’s deal.

Britain will be presented with a stark choice of crashing out just two days later or extending membership by at least six months.

But Poland’s PM Mateusz Morawiecki said Brussels will offer Britain a year’s extension.

He said he hoped then that Brexit could be reversed altogether. But an official close to Mr Tusk said: “We expect the UK to indicate a way forward before then, well in time for the EU Council to consider.”

It is believed the UK would have to table concrete proposals by April 8 to give leaders enough time to consider them.