Tory MPs 'preparing for another snap election' amid Brexit splits

Emilio Casalicchio

Conservative MPs are bracing themselves for another snap general election amid fears the problems of Brexit will topple Theresa May, it has been reported.



Back benchers went home and urged their local associations to re-adopt them as candidates after a meeting in Downing Street this week about customs after Brexit, according to the Sunday Times.

It comes amid a bitter row in the party over whether the UK should adopt a closer ‘customs partnership’ regime with the EU or a more distant ‘maximum facilitation’ system.

One Tory said rather than be reassured by the Downing Street meeting they came out expecting Mrs May to face a vote of no confidence after repeated parliamentary defeats.

They told the paper: “It’s becoming clear there’s no compromise that will keep remainers such as Nicky Morgan, Anna Soubry and Dominic Grieve happy as well as the likes of myself and Jacob Rees-Mogg...

“The numbers are against us and if we face repeated defeats when the withdrawal bill returns to the Commons, the only alternative will be to kick over the table and trigger a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister, which will likely lead to another general election.

“After speaking with like-minded colleagues, I have raised this with my association chairman and asked them to get on with readopting me as the candidate in my seat in anticipation that we could go to the polls as early as the autumn. I am even preparing my first leaflet drop for the summer.”

A Labour insider meanwhile told the paper: “I heard two separate reports from MPs who said they had heard Conservative MPs planning for an early election.”

Mrs May lost her Commons majority after calling a snap general election last year, while Labour under Jeremy Corbyn was boosted by some 30 seats.