THERESA May’s grip on power was looking more secure last night as Brexiteer rebels conceded momentum had slowed for their campaign to oust her.
Despite a flurry of Cabinet resignations – including that of her Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab – on Thursday and predictions she would have to quit, there was little sign of the Prime Minister being challenged.
Reports suggested it could be Monday before the 48 letters needed to trigger a vote of confidence in the Prime Minister were submitted to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 backbench committee of Tory MPs.
Leading Eurosceptic Steve Baker, told the BBC that while the threshold could be met yesterday, “it does feel like a bit of the momentum has gone”.
May was also reportedly holding a conference call with Tory association chiefs as she tried to build support for her Brexit deal and head off the hardliners’ coup.
When asked if 48 letters of no confidence had been received by the 1922 Committee as he left his Westminster home on yesterday morning, Jacob Rees-Mogg, chair of the European Research Group (ERG), said: “We’ll see” and raised his eyebrows.
Former Cabinet minister John Whittingdale was among three MPs who submitted a letter to the 1922 Committee calling for a confidence vote.
“I believe that the agreement that is being proposed does not deliver Brexit in the way that I and many others want to see,” he told the Press Association.
“It leaves us locked in indefinitely into the customs union. I also don’t think it can get through the House of Commons.
“I want the Government to pursue a proper free trade agreement which does deliver the Brexit objectives but which keeps us as close to Europe as possible.
“I believe that is on offer from the European Union but it is clear that the Prime Minister is unwilling to move from her existing position.
“Therefore I felt there is no alternative but to seek a vote of confidence.”
Conservative MP and vice-chairman of ERG Mark Francois, and Tory MP Ben Bradley, both submitted letters to Sir Graham Brady yesterday.
As he left the Defra office, Environment Secretary Michael Gove was asked if he had confidence in the Prime Minister and replied: “I absolutely do.”
He added: “I am looking forward to continuing to work with all colleagues in Government and in Parliament to get the best future for Britain.”
Asked for May’s response to Gove’s decision to remain at Defra, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: “She is very pleased that he will continue doing the important work he is doing there.”
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has also publicly backed the PM.
Speaking in Bristol, he said: “I have full confidence in the Prime Minister.
“I think she is taking us forward with confidence and – I have to say – with resilience, and I very much agree with Michael Gove that what we need now is stability.”
In a message to discontented MPs, International Trade Secretary Fox said: “I hope that we all take a rational and reasonable view of this.
“We are not elected to do what we want. We are elected to do what’s in the national interest. Ultimately I hope that across Parliament we’ll recognise that a deal is better than no deal. Businesses do require certainty and confidence as they go forward for their planning and there are those around the world who are waiting to get certainty also to begin to discuss trade agreements with the UK. It is in our national interest.”
Tory MP Jack Lopresti – whose wife Andrea Jenkyns has submitted a letter of no confidence – said he backed May’s plan.
Meanwhile, Foreign Office Minister Mark Field has appealed for MPs to stop “squabbling” and get behind Theresa May’s Brexit deal. “I think just to watch MPs squabbling is not a very edifying scene,” he told the World At One.
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