MPS will vote for their preferred Brexit options today, including Prime Minister Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement – and her deal just received a massive boost as arch Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg made an unexpected turn. Could Theresa May get her deal through?
MPs are preparing to vote on several Brexit alternatives today in a bid to find an option the majority of the Commons can get behind. Some have suggested the Prime Minister must name the date of her departure in order to get her deal over the line, but Mrs May received a shocking boost on Tuesday with leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg hinting he may soon back the plan. Mr Rees-Mogg wrote on Twitter: “The choice seems to be Mrs May’s deal or no Brexit.”
Why has Jacob Rees-Mogg u-turned on May’s Brexit deal?
Jacob Rees-Mogg has said he will back the Prime Minister’s withdrawal agreement from the EU as long as it gets the backing of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).
On Tuesday, the arch Brexiteer urged his fellow to back her deal or face the possibility of not seeing Britain leave the EU at all.
Writing in the Daily Mail, Mr Rees-Mogg said: “I am now willing to support it if the Democratic Unionist Party does, and by doing so will be accused of infirmity of purpose by some and treachery by others.
“I have come to this view because the numbers in parliament make it clear that all the other potential outcomes are worse and an awkward reality needs to be faced.”
The u-turn came after the Eurosceptic acknowledged “the choice seems to be Ms May’s deal or no Brexit”.
Speaking on the Conservative Home podcast, Mr Rees-Mogg said: ”I have always thought that ‘no deal’ is better than Ms May’s deal, but Ms May’s deal is better than not leaving at all.”
Mr Rees-Mogg added Brexit may now be a “process rather than an event” and it could take time to fully break away from the bloc.
In his article the Somerset MP continued: “A number of Tory MPs think a new leader could swiftly renegotiate but that is almost certainly not true now that parliament has taken control of the House of Commons timetable,” he said.
“It would be even harder for a eurosceptic to manage the current Commons than it is for Ms May.”
Could Theresa May get her deal through?
Theresa May’s Brexit deal has already been rejected twice.
The first vote, held on January 15, saw the Prime Minister suffer a historic defeat as her deal got rejected by 230 votes.
The Prime Minister requires the support of all Tory Brexiteers and the DUP to get her deal passed.
However, DUP leader Arlene Foster has scuppered the Prime Minister’s plans by confirming her party will not support a third meaningful vote.
A spokesman for the party said: “Our position remains unchanged and as previously set out.
“We will judge all proposals and scenarios on the basis of our objectives to maintain the integrity of the United Kingdom and deliver on the referendum result.”
If the DUP won’t support the Prime Minister, she will need help from 74 Labour rebels for her Brexit deal to succeed.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has indicated he would back the controversial deal on the condition of a “confirmatory ballot” being put to the British public.
He told Sky’s Soppy Ridge: “I had a very good discussion with Phil Wilson and Peter Kyle last week and we went through what they’re trying to do, which is make sure people do have a say in the final matter, and that we agree with and support.”
When the deal was tabled again in March the deal was rejected by 149 votes – still a huge majority.
