Jacob Rees-Mogg warns Theresa May: remember what happened to Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850) Jacob Rees-Mogg has invoked the memory of Victorian Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel in an effort to warn Theresa May […]

Jacob Rees-Mogg has invoked the memory of Victorian Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel in an effort to warn Theresa May off relying on Labour votes to pass her Brexit plan.

The eurosceptic MP told BBC’s Newsnight programme: “I’d just remind the Prime Minister of Sir Robert Peel. Sir Robert Peel did not lose any vote on the Corn Laws, he lost it on an Irish coercion bill.

“But it is very, very dangerous territory for Prime Ministers to rely on opposition votes. They find they are fairweather friends, they’re not there every day of the week.”

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He outlined what he sees as the Prime Minister’s two options: either return to the principles outlined in the Lancaster House speech, or find support outside the party.

He said any effort to push through a Brexit plan with the support of some Labour MPs, despite dozens of Tory rebels would be a “really major split”.

“What Prime Ministers need is a loyal party that backs them day in, day out,” he added.

Sarah Wollaston, a Remainer Tory who supports the Chequers deal, responded: “So back her.”

Move to softer Brexit

Wollaston argued in favour of the plan as it stands, saying: “I welcome the move to a softer Brexit. I welcome the fact that she’s listened to the voice of Brexit and put the economy first.”

But Rees-Mogg remained sceptical.

“The real problem Leavers have is that the Prime Minister is not doing what she said she would do,” he said – pointing out that “personal loyalty is separate to policy loyalty” when it comes to matters such as this. .

Rees-Mogg is the influential chair of the European Research Group, which collects together eurosceptic Tory MPs and is thought to have sway on how they might act collectively in support of or opposition to the Prime Minister.

The group met earlier but, despite fears, no immediate rebellion was forthcoming. Under Conservative Party rules, 48 letters to the 1922 Committee would be enough to force a leadership election – and 62 backbenchers signed an ERG letter in support of Lancaster House principles in February.

Could Jeremy Corbyn do it?

Also on the programme, Leaver Andrea Leadsom said that Dominic Raab would “up-pace a bit” as time runs out to secure a Brexit deal.

She defended the Chequers deal as the dust settles on a day of resignations. “We’re definitely delivering on Brexit,” she said, claiming that the red lines in the plan would lead to a good result.

Despite divisions in the party, she maintained that the Conservatives are in a position to take the country forward.

“The other party would be Jeremy Corbyn. Really? Do you actually think he could organise anything like this?” she asked.