Brexiteer cabinet ministers in plan to shift May on EU deal

GB news 24 desk//

A group of five ministers in Theresa May’s top team are hoping to persuade her to make changes to her draft Brexit deal, the BBC understands.

Andrea Leadsom, leader of the Commons, is believed to be coordinating the group.

The five ministers include Michael Gove and Liam Fox – who on Friday publicly threw their support behind the PM – plus Penny Mordaunt and Chris Grayling.

Mrs May published her draft withdrawal agreement with the EU on Wednesday.

The 585-page document sets out the terms of the UK’s departure and includes details such as how much money will be paid to the EU, details of the transition period and citizens rights.

The deal prompted the start of a tumultuous few days for Mrs May, with two senior ministers and several other junior ministers and aides resigning.

Some Conservative Brexiteers who are unhappy with the agreement have also been submitting letters of no-confidence in Mrs May. If 48 letters are sent, then a vote will be triggered and she could face a challenge to her leadership.

On Friday evening, it emerged that Mrs Leadsom hopes to work with the four other ministers to change a specific part of the draft withdrawal deal regarding what is known as the Irish backstop – which has been one of the main sticking points in talks with Brussels.

Both sides want to avoid a hard Northern Ireland border so they agreed to put in place a “backstop” – or back-up plan – in case they cannot reach a long-term trade agreement which does this.

The backstop would mean that Northern Ireland would stay more closely aligned to some EU rules on things like food products and goods standards than the rest of the UK, which critics say is unacceptable. The UK would not be able to leave the backstop without the EU’s consent.According to the BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg, the group of ministers want a change in the text to include the possibility of new technology or a free trade deal as alternative solutions to the Irish border issue.

The group’s plans were described as a “work in progress”, and a “last-ditch attempt to find something to put to the Commons”.

And a source said of Theresa May’s deal: “Even if you don’t mind it ideologically, you can’t be fooled about getting it through the Commons.”

The source suggested that if changes weren’t made, resignations from Brexiteers still in the cabinet were “not off the table”.

Whisky for May

Meanwhile, the prime minister told the Daily Mail the withdrawal agreement was “not everybody’s ideal deal” but said her job was to make “tough decisions” and “find a way through”.

She also warned her opponents their alternative Brexit plans would not resolve the Irish backstop issue.

Commenting on the backlash to the deal, Mrs May acknowledged it had been “a pretty heavy couple of days”.

She revealed her husband Philip, who she described as her “rock”, had helped her through it – at one point pouring her a large whisky and making beans on toast.

She added: “He does feel some of it (the hurt) himself – he’s bound to. We’ve been married for 38 years, that’s a long time.”

Image copyrightANDREW MATTHEWS

New Brexit secretary

Mrs May’s comments come after Stephen Barclay was picked as the new Brexit secretary on Friday – replacing Dominic Raab who quit on Thursday.

The MP for North East Cambridgeshire – who is a Leave supporter – has been a health minister since January.

A No 10 spokesman indicated that Mr Barclay, who becomes the third Brexit secretary since the role was created, would focus on domestic preparations for Brexit, rather than the negotiations.

In other developments:

• Amber Rudd was named the new work and pensions secretary – replacing Esther McVey who also quit over the deal
• It emerged Environment Secretary Mr Gove – who the BBC understood had at one point been contemplating his position – turned down the role of Brexit secretary
• Stephen Hammond takes over from Mr Barclay as a health minister in the mini-reshuffle
• And John Penrose will join the Northern Ireland office, replacing Shailesh Vara; while Kwasi Kwarteng will go to the Department for Exiting the EU, replacing Suella Braverman
• Around 20 Tory MPs have publicly called for a vote of no confidence in the prime minister, with more thought to have written to the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee to call for a vote on her leadership

The draft withdrawal agreement for Brexit that Mrs May agreed with her cabinet on Wednesday has been signed off by negotiators from both the UK and EU.