May's last stand? PM faces down MPs but does NOT deny resignation rumours

A fiery Theresa May today faced down MPs in the Commons and hinted she could hold a third vote on her deal as early as tomorrow, amid rumours she will enter a resignation pact with Tory rebels who would then cave in and back her Brexit deal.

The Prime Minister has been told to her face that for Brexiteers including Boris Johnson to support her deal she will need to promise Tory MPs she will quit before the second stage of EU talks begin later this year – and at PMQs she gave a spirited performance but refused to rule out stepping down when challenged. 

If her deal gets the support of a majority of MPs before the end of this week Britain will leave the EU on May 22, if it does not the country faces weeks of chaos as rebel Remainers try to force a soft Brexit in votes starting tonight.

And in a sign the deal could be voted on again tomorrow or Friday, Mrs May told MPs during Prime Minister's Questions today that they could deliver on Brexit 'if this week this House supports the deal'. 

Today senior Brexiteer Cabinet minister Andrea Leadsom did little to quell the rumours of Mrs May's demise after her Brexit deal passes and said: 'I am fully supporting the Prime Minister to get us out of the EU. What happens after that is a matter for the Prime Minister. I'm not going to express a view.'

And as more rebel Brexiteer Tories indicated this morning that they will climb down and back May, Leave campaign architect Dominic Cummings attacked 'narcissist delusional' ERG members stopping the PM getting the votes she needs.

In an extraordinary blogpost he said during the 2016 referendum campaign 'so many of you guys were too busy shooting or skiing or chasing girls to do any actual work'. He added: 'You should be treated like a metastasising tumour and excised'.

However the rebel climbdown could all come to nothing because the DUP, who May also needs to support her deal, show no signs of coming onboard.

Jacob Rees-Mogg today urged other hardline Eurosceptics to back Mrs May or face losing Brexit with 20 or more hardcore Brexiteers including Boris Johnson ready to swing behind her if she agrees to quit tonight.

Backbencher Robert Courts, a member of the ERG's Star Chamber, is the latest to cave with sources claiming the trickle of U-turns could become 'a flood'. 

He said: 'I will reluctantly back the PM's deal. The hard reality is that this deal, for all its faults, is now the only available route out of the EU and to deliver on our promises. With renewed focus the ultimate prize is still achievable in future relationship talks'.





MailOnline