CABINET ministers are meeting to consider Theresa May’s future as four have asked to see her about her “New Deal” on Brexit, which was savaged not only by opposing parties but some of her own Conservative colleagues.
Among the four ministers who have asked to see the Prime Minister is David Mundell. The Herald was told that the Scottish Secretary has grave concerns about the way the offer of a possible vote on a second EU referendum is being presented.
A Whitehall insider said: “The Secretary of State is voicing concerns about the way it is being presented; it’s sounding as though we are supporting it. This needs to be challenged; the Government does not support a second referendum.”
He explained that there had to be clarity that the UK Government’s opposition to a second Scottish independence referendum was as strong as its opposition to an EU referendum.
“The way it’s being presented is being exploited by the Scottish Government and the SNP,” he added.
Yesterday on the back of Mrs May’s “new, bold offer,” which included a Commons vote as part of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill[WAB] on having a second EU referendum, Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: “The PM might not have guaranteed a second EU referendum, but her promise of a vote on one puts the Scottish Tories ‘vote for us for no more referendums on anything ever’ pitch on something of a sticky wicket.”
Ross Thomson, the Scottish Conservative MP, also expressed concern about the way the PM's reworked bill to include a vote on a second EU referendum might be interpreted.
He tweeted: "I reluctantly voted for the PM’s deal on the third go as I saw it as the only way to ensure we left the EU on March 29. I will not support PM’s new deal that enables second EU referendum. To do so only serves to do the SNP’s dirty work for them with their #IndyRef2 drive."
During a Commons statement on the reworked WAB, which will be published on Friday, the PM pleaded with MPs to let her Brexit deal pass or face years of “division and deadlock”.
However, the strength of the backlash to the bill from her own side appears to have concentrated minds on the Conservative frontbench.
One minister said the “game is up” while another insisted it was the "end of the line". A third noted: “Things are moving fast.”
Earlier, Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, hinted that the Commons vote on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, due in the week of June 3, would be pulled; or should be. Later, No 10 made clear the plan was still to debate and vote on it during the first week back after the Whitsun recess.
The backbench 1922 committee meets this evening when MPs are expected to demand that Mrs May goes quickly after what is expected to be a disastrous result in the European elections.
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