Theresa May battles to save Brexit deal amid threats to oust her

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Theresa May battles to save Brexit deal amid threats to oust her

Eurosceptics could move against the PM if Commons defeat leads to Brexit delay

Rowena Mason Deputy political editor
Sun 10 Mar 2019 20.26 GMT

Theresa May was battling on Sunday night to save her Brexit deal and prolong her premiership, amid signs Eurosceptics could move against her if there is a delay to leaving the EU.

The prime minister’s position looked precarious as she was unable to announce any progress in talks with the EU less than 48 hours before her House of Commons vote on the deal.

One Downing Street insider said the week ahead looked “choppy” as parliament is likely to vote to extend article 50 and rule out a no-deal Brexit if MPs do not approve May’s withdrawal agreement with the EU.

Two former cabinet ministers – Nicky Morgan and Dominic Raab – suggested that her premiership would be in trouble in that scenario, with speculation that Eurosceptics will try to force her out.

To avoid that threat, May will need votes in the week ahead from about 100 Tory and Democratic Unionist party Eurosceptics, who want an assurance that the UK will not indefinitely be bound by the Irish backstop and a permanent customs union with the EU.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/10/theresa-may-battles-to-save-brexit-deal-amid-threats-to-oust-her

[T_i_B]

1. I see that Brexshitters are trying to shift the blame, as per usual

As to getting rid of Theresa May, what alternatives can the Brexshitters offer that are any better than the worst Prime Minister since Lord North?

Michael Gove would be a disaster, Boris Johnson, David Davis and Dominic Raab are utterly discredited, Rees-Mogg is a bad joke, the less said about Chris Grayling the better. Lack of credible alternatives was a major factor in the ERG group's failure to oust May last time out and that part of the problem has not changed.

[Denzil_DC]

2. From what polling I've seen, Johnson is currently top of the pack.

I startle myself by remembering the resigned and highly reserved relief when May prevailed over Leadsom. We knew she'd be a horrible PM, but her incompetence and tolerance of others' incompetence was less clear at that point.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Currently on 'Oddschecker', Gove has a narrow lead over Johnson

https://www.oddschecker.com/politics/british-politics/next-conservative-leader

Raab, Sajid Javid and Jeremy Hunt round out those with odds better than 10 to 1. It's a pretty awful pack. Philip Hammond is at 50 to 1, despite seeming more sane than just about all the people above him. I don't know why Tories hate him so much.

[T_i_B]

4. Hammond is seen as being too much of a "remainer"

I don't know if you know any grassroots Tories on real life, but in my experience they are quite rabid and cultish on this subject. Come the next Tory leadership contest they will be demanding ideological purity above all else.

[Denzil_DC]

5. David Schneider sums up the field:

Link to tweet

David Schneider ✔
@davidschneider

As MPs position themselves to replace Theresa May, here are the latest odds for the next Tory leader.

[LeftishBrit]

6. Good summary!