A Tory cabinet minister has warned Prime Minister Theresa May that she and other government colleagues are ready to resign if a ‘catastrophic’ no-deal Brexit is not ruled out.
Margot James, the digital minister, claims she and fellow ministers Richard Harrington and Claire Perry are ready to walk out if the prime minister fails to extend Article 50 to avoid the UK leaving the EU without a deal on March 29.
Asked whether she was prepared to quit, or be sacked, James said: “If it comes to that, yes.”
The prime minister faces the prospect of widespread rebellion on Wednesday from Tory MPs on an amendment tabled by Conservative Oliver Letwin and Labour’s Yvette Cooper that would effectively rule out a no-deal Brexit.
May has faced criticism from both politicians in London and Brussels after she rescheduled a “meaningful” vote on Brexit in the Commons that could take place as late as March 12 – just two weeks before the UK is due to leave the union.
It comes as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn announced on Monday that his party will either table or support an amendment backing a second Brexit referendum this week.