‘We will not allow a no deal’: Rebels inflict ANOTHER humiliating defeat on May as 20 Tory Remain MPs join forces

Theresa May suffered another humiliating defeat at the hands of Tory Remain rebels tonight as they won a ‘shutdown’ vote and promised more revolts against no deal.

In a defiant show of rebel strength, 20 Tories voted for an amendment to the Finance Bill tabled by Labour’s Yvette Cooper to tie the Treasury’s hands in a no deal Brexit – with the Government losing 303 to 296.

And the rebels warned the PM the alliance with Labour will ‘sustain itself’ and promised ‘we will not allow a no deal exist to occur at the end of March’.  

Downing Street played down the impact of the amendment, insisting it was ‘inconvenient’ but would not actually stop the Treasury collecting taxes.  

More dangerous for the Prime Minister is the successful alliance between pro-Remain MPs on her benches and the Opposition. Together they could cause chaos for the Government in the coming months on a series of issues. 

Tory veteran Sir Oliver Letwin warned Mrs May: ‘The majority tonight that is expressed in this House will sustain itself. We will not allow a no deal exit to occur at the end of March.’ 

Mrs May faced a further blow today as Business Minister Richard Harrington warned he would quit the Government to join rebels if the Government pivots to no deal.  

Meanwhile, Michael Gove today likened hardline Eurosceptics to ‘mid-50s swingers’ waiting for actress Scarlett Johannson to turn up at a party.

The extraordinary barb from the Environment Secretary came as Cabinet met to discuss the prospects of Theresa May’s Brexit deal getting through the Commons next week.

The backbench amendment to the Finance Bill, which would remove the Treasury’s special spending powers, is backed by a number of pro-Remain Tories, including ex-ministers Sir Oliver Letwin and Nick Boles and health committee chairman Sarah Wollaston.

Downing Street vowed to oppose the amendment, insisting it was not ‘desirable’ – but told rebels even if they win it would ‘inconvenient rather than anything more significant‘. 

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