Breaking – Theresa May Faces Crushing Defeat on Brexit Bill

Theresa May is facing a crushing defeat on her Brexit Bill after Jacob Rees-Mogg joined the senior Tories deserting her camp.

Mr Rees-Mogg – head of the powerful ERG block of MPs – made clear he would be switching sides to vote against the crucial legislation when it comes to the Commons next month.

The move is more evidence that Mrs May’s support is slipping away, leaving her on track for an even heavier defeat than in March – when the third effort to get her deal was rejected by 58 votes.

Mr Rees-Mogg said he had backed the Brexit package previously so the UK could get out ‘broadly on time’, but it would now be a ‘weight around the neck’ of the next Tory leader.

Former Brexit Secretary David Davis has also announced he will oppose the Bill when it comes to a vote, expected to be on June 7. 

Meanwhile, Cabinet is already at war over what happens after Mrs Theresa May is ousted – with open leadership jostling.

Philip Hammond is due to warn in a speech tonight that Brexiteer Tories have ‘no mandate’ for crashing out of the EU. 

But Andrea Leadsom hit back at the Chancellor by saying that Britain must leave the EU on October 31 at all costs.

As the Conservatives threaten to tear themselves apart, the PM is still presenting her ‘bold’ new Brexit deal to her team this morning, despite looking an increasingly peripheral figure in the debate.

Downing Street is pinning its hopes on persuading Labour MPs in Brexit areas to rebel against Jeremy Corbyn.

But with Tories switching sides, dozens would be needed to get the legislation past its first major parliamentary obstacle.

Source: DailyMail