Mrs May's agreement,
Hardcore Brexiteers who voted against May’s deal begin to crack: Scores of Tory MPs say they will back PM as she battles to win over 75 before key Brexit vote next week – but ERG still predict she’ll lose by 100
Hardcore Brexiteers who voted against Theresa May‘s withdrawal deal are beginning to crack, as the PM battles to secure the support of 75 more defectors to win her crucial vote next week.
European Research Group (ERG) stalwarts Jacob Rees-Mogg and Iain Duncan Smith are wavering in their opposition to Mrs May’s agreement, sources say, as they face warnings its failure could cause a lengthy delay which could put Brexit itself at risk.
It comes after David Davis made the bombshell decision to vote for the deal on Tuesday, and former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey said she would be going through the aye lobby next week ‘the rules have changed’.
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European Research Group (ERG) stalwarts Jacob Rees-Mogg (left, on Thursday) and Iain Duncan Smith (right, on February 28) are wavering in their opposition to Mrs May’s agreement, sources say
But despite the positive signs Mrs May still faces a difficult task ahead, with senior ERG figures predicting she will lose her third vote by ‘well over 100 votes’, according to the Sunday Telegraph.
Mr Duncan Smith is said to have been prepared to back Mrs May’s deal at its second showing if Attorney General Geoffrey Cox had changed his legal advice on the Irish backstop, as was ERG chairman Mr Rees-Mogg.
‘Iain and Jacob were both on the verge, and they are still looking to rat,’ a colleague told The Sunday Times.
Ms McVey, who resigned in protest at Mrs May’s agreement, is insistent that voting with the Prime Minister is now her only option as ‘the rules have changed’.
She told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday that this week’s vote to rule out No Deal had left MPs facing the choice between ‘this bad deal and no Brexit whatsoever’.
‘When I resigned there was still a chance to get a better deal or no deal – which is what we stood on in our party manifesto – but this week the government and parliament conspired to take no deal off the table. So I will be holding my nose,’ she said.
Meanwhile, former Brexit Secretary David Davis is rallying support for the deal after his bombshell decision to back it last week.
He joined 15 MP who signed an open letter warning the rebels that they risk losing Brexit entirely. Signatories included Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski – who voted against the Government only last week.
The increase pressure on Tory rebels appears to be having some impact, with Mr Rees-Mogg reportedly ‘snippy’ with Eurosceptic allies urging him not to back down at a gala this week .
Deputy ERG chair Steve Baker is also ‘under great strain’, a colleague told The Sunday Times, with some believing him to still be ‘in play’. Other rejected this assessment.