Feuding MPs were told to vote on four alternatives to Theresa May's
Westminster waits after feuding MPs vote on FOUR alternatives to May’s deal tonight – including a customs union and cancelling Brexit – amid fevered election speculation as PM orders ministers to five-hour showdown tomorrow
Westminster is on pause tonight after feuding MPs voted on four alternatives to Theresa May’s Brexit deal amid fevered speculation about a snap election.
The Commons is suspended while votes are counted on the proposals – for a customs union, Norway-style soft Brexit, second referendum and cancelling Brexit – with Speaker John Bercow to announce the results later.
The votes were staged after rebel MPs seized control of the Commons agenda in the wake of Mrs May’s deal being repeatedly trounced.
Tonight’s results could set Britain on the road to a soft Brexit amid speculation a permanent customs union will top the poll – though Labour backing an even softer plan has put boosters under a Norway-style plan.ADVERTISING
The debate was interrupted by semi-naked protesters in the public gallery.
Whatever MPs vote on tonight, Mrs May has summoned her ministers to an epic Cabinet tomorrow – fuelling speculation she is getting ready for the ‘nuclear’ option of an election despite her deep unpopularity in her own party.
Instead of the usual 90-minute discussion, Tory ministers will spend three hours locked in talks without officials from 9am – meaning they can discuss party politics and how to tackle the Brexit endgame in light of the results.
There will then be a normal two-hour Cabinet where the Government can take decisions on the fate of the nation.
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Feuding MPs were told to vote on four alternatives to Theresa May’s (pictured returning to the Commons this evening) Brexit deal tonight amid fevered speculation she could force an election to end the impasse
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Speaker John Bercow selected proposals for a customs union, Norway-style soft Brexit, second referendum and cancelling Brexit in the second round of indicative votes tonight Video playing bottom right…Click here to expand to full page
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MPs voted on pale blue ballot papers containing four different motions for alternative Brexit plans. Craig Mackinlay revealed he voted for none of them
Most Tory MPs have a free vote on the alternatives to Mrs May’s deal tonight, with 25 or more junior ministers predicted to be ready to back a softer Brexit.
Cabinet ministers have been told to abstain, but, with a growing rift between Remainers and Brexiteers in the Government, some could still choose to vote for a customs union and resign.
All eyes will be on the 10 ministers known to back a customs union with the EU if Theresa May’s deal is killed off, including the ‘gang of four’ cabinet remainers: Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd, Justice Secretary David Gauke, Business Secretary Greg Clark and Scottish Secretary David Mundell. They would be willing to quit if Mrs May pushes for a No Deal Brexit and could do it by defying her order to abstain in tonight’s indicative votes.
But Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg today admitted he is ‘very concerned’ that Theresa May will add a customs union onto her Brexit deal to get it through Parliament.
He told LBC radio: ‘My concern is that the Prime Minister is more concerned to avoid a No Deal Brexit than anything else. And therefore I am very concerned that she could decide to go for a customs union tacked onto her deal.’
Mr Rees-Mogg also claimed that last Friday’s vote on the Brexit deal would ‘probably have gone through’ if it had been Mrs May’s deal versus a general election.