Brexit SHOCK: At least 12 ministers on verge of QUITTING over Theresa May EU exit plan

Brexit SHOCK: At least 12 ministers on verge of QUITTING over Theresa May EU exit plan

Brexit SHOCK: At least 12 ministers on verge of QUITTING over Theresa May EU exit plan

AT LEAST 12 Ministers could resign from the Government today unless Theresa May allows free votes on a series of Brexit options, according to a shock warning from Conservative MP Steve Brine.

Mr Brine himself quit the Government on Monday to vote against Mrs May on key motions. Parliament will hold a series of indicative votes on different Brexit related plans, including cancelling the UK’s EU exit or holding another membership referendum. A plan to keep Britain in a European customs union after Brexit has significant Conservative support, despite going against Government policy.

Asked yesterday on the BBC Newsnight how many Ministers could leave Mr Brine replied: “It’s north of a dozen.

“I have said privately and publicly that I think they should be free votes because they’re not indicative votes.

“If they’re whipped then they’re only indicative as good as the whipping is, they’re not actually indicative votes.

“MPs should be free to vote as they see fit for the future of the country.”

The indicative votes are being held to see whether any Brexit option has the support of a Parliamentary majority after Mrs May’s exit agreement was twice voted down.

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They are being forced on the Government by a cross-party group of MPs, who voted on Monday to seize control of Parliamentary procedure from the Government to allow the votes.

Mr Brine, previously a minister at the Department of Health, resigned to back the cross-party group and a separate bid to rule out a no-deal Brexit.

If Mrs May allows a free vote Ministers will be allowed to vote for their preferred Brexit option, without losing their jobs.

However if the vote is whipped any Minister who votes against the Government’s position should expect to be sacked.

The indicative votes are non-binding on the Prime Minister, but Theresa May could find it politically difficult to ignore the will of Parliament.

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Hard Brexit backing MPs fear Parliament will vote to keep the UK in a European customs union after Brexit, severely restricting its ability to sign trade deals with third countries.

On Newsnight Mr Brine pointed the finger of blame for the current stalemate at the Government.

He commented: “It is a failing exactly of the executive but it’s also the fact that we’re living in a hung parliament.

“Theresa May’s got to reach across the aisle.

“I was prepared to leave a job that I loved last night in order to force that issue and they should be free votes.”

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