Tory HQ is forced into embarrassing U-turn after sending out email saying Britain WILL take part in EU elections on May 23 – then rowing back to insist the nation could still leave without going to the polls
Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis leaves the Cabinet Office in central London on April 4
Conservative HQ has made an embarrassing U-turn after sending out a mass email saying Britain will be taking part in European Parliament elections on May 23 – before then rowing back to insist the nation could still leave without going to the polls.
Mrs May has insisted for months she does not want Britain to take part in the EU elections and as recently as last week said she wanted to avoid it.
But an email to Tory candidates earlier this evening said: ‘Due to the current situation we will be contesting the European Elections on 23 May 2019 and the closing date for nominations is 24 April.’
However, in a later email, Tory chairman Brandon Lewis U-turned on the remarks, which were made by the party’s head of candidates Gareth Fox. He suggested Mr Fox’s email was only outlining what would happen if this ambition is not achieved. ADVERTISING
Running the national election would cost the taxpayer at least £100million and force political parties to spend millions more on campaign materials.
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Theresa May (seen outside Number 10 yesterday) has insisted for months she does not want Britain to take part in the EU elections and as recently as last week said she wanted to avoid it
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An email (left) sent this evening by Tory head of candidates Gareth Fox said Britain would take part in the European elections. But party chairman Brandon Lewis then rowed back on his remarks (right)
Mr Lewis’ email this evening read: ‘The Government’s clear policy is to leave the EU with a deal and for the necessary legislation to pass before 22 May so that the UK does not need to participate in European Parliamentary elections.
‘However, if the UK had not ratified the Withdrawal Agreement and were still a Member State of the European Union on 23 May, we would be under a legal obligation to hold the elections.
‘With the closing date for the nominations on 24 April, it is clear that we need to make contingency plans as a Part in the event of these elections going ahead.
‘This is why Gareth Fox emailed you earlier today to outline how we ensure we are prepared for any eventuality.’
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WITH BREXIT?
MONDAY APRIL 8: LABOUR WAIT FOR BREXIT DEAL OFFER
Theresa May paved the way for a customs union deal with Labour last night as she pledged to ‘compromise’ to ensure Brexit happens.
Ministers were out in force today repeating this message but Labour said they are waiting for an offer from the PM so talks can move forward.
Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer said ‘the ball is in the Government’s court’.
TUESDAY APRIL 9: PM’S EUROPEAN TOUR
The Prime Minister will fly meet Angela Merkel in Berlin and then on to Paris to see Emmanuel Macron as she tried to convince European leaders to back her plea to extend Article 50 until June 30.
Donald Tusk says EU leaders should demand a delay until March 31, 2020 – but Mr Macron is said to be considering forcing the UK out of the EU unless they face ‘strict’ conditions.
WEDNESDAY APRIL 10: EU SUMMIT
Another summit with EU leaders – where May will ask for a new delay beyond April 12.
May’s new plan is to strike a cross-party consensus in London and persuade EU leaders it means the deal can be delivered in time for Brexit on May 22.
She may have to accept a longer extension that means holding EU elections, as Brussels has made clear this is a red line – and will take a decision on delay without Britain and it must be unanimous.
EU officials including Michel Barnier have warned that the risk of an accidental No Deal is increasing if May arrives with no plan.
FRIDAY APRIL 12: BREXIT DAY
Britain is due to leave the EU without a deal on this date if no delay is agreed.
In her letter to EU Council President Donald Tusk on Friday, Mrs May asked for a fresh delay to Brexit that could be cut short if the deal passes in time to avoid the election.
The EU has insisted Britain elect new MEPs if it wants to delay Brexit by extending Article 50 – warning the UK cannot stay in the bloc for longer without them.
The Government has tabled an order enabling EU elections to be held in Britain if the country has not left the EU by the time they take place next month.
The Day of Poll Order sets the date for the elections on May 23, but the Cabinet Office said they would automatically be cancelled if the UK left before then.
Brexiteer MPs reacted with fury after Mr Fox’s original email was leaked.
Sources in the hardline European Research Group told MailOnline: ‘It’s good to know that Theresa May can say bad things with certainty.
‘If it’s set to destroy the party, she’s firm of purpose and pushes on. Corbyn and Barnier are very, very lucky to have her.’
Tory MP Bob Seely said: ‘Wish this was a week-late April foo wind-up. If true, let’s hope we pull out beforehand.
‘This is really going to wind-up our voters, and not surprisingly.’
In other developments today, Yvette Cooper’s backbench Bill that would force Mrs May to ask for a Brexit extension rather than leave the EU with no deal was passed by the House of Lords.
It will now be sent back to the House of Commons where MPs will need to agree to amendments to the bill made in the Lords.
Elsewhere, Jeremy Corbyn slammed Mrs May’s refusal to budge off her red lines tonight after the Prime Minister met Brexiteer ministers and top Tory MPs in Downing Street.
After meeting with his shadow cabinet about the state of the cross-party talks, the Labour leader said he was ‘frustrated’ the Prime Minister’s actions were not matching her calls for compromise.
Mrs May has enraged her own side by inviting Mr Corbyn to talks on finding a compromise that can get her Brexit deal through Parliament. Downing Street and Labour have agreed to more talks between officials tonight.
There are persistent rumours in Westminster Mrs May is poised to over Labour a permanent customs union with the EU after Brexit – despite the threat of resignations from the Brexiteer wing of her Cabinet if she effectively rules out hopes of new trade deals after Brexit.
But the concession could be the only way to get Labour behind her deal. Mr Corbyn has long demanded a permanent customs union be the basis of the final UK-EU trade deal.
