Remain Tory MPs fear humiliating defeat for Theresa May could trigger Boris Johnson leadership (Picture: EPA)

Remain Tory MPs are reportedly backing away from defeating Theresa May in crucial parliamentary votes this week, in fear it would allow Boris Johnson to take over.

Key Tory rebels said humiliating defeat against the prime minister in the Commons on Tuesday and Wednesday could trigger a leadership crisis.

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Two senior Conservatives from the Leave and Remain wings of the party have also come together to urge Tory MPs to back May in a the crunch Commons votes on Brexit.

Former home secretary Amber Rudd, a leading Remain supporter, and ex-party leader Iain Duncan Smith, a long-standing Brexiteer, warned defeat could lead to the fall of the government.




In a joint article for The Sunday Telegraph, they said that voting to overturn or water down a series of amendments inserted by the Lords into the EU Withdrawal Bill should be a ‘no brainer’.

They fear humiliating defeat would allow Boris Johnson to take over the top job (Picture: AP)

They said Labour would be quick to exploit any setback for the Government for their own purposes.

They warned: ‘Jeremy Corbyn will do everything he can to stop us.

‘That includes cynically trying to frustrate the Brexit process for his own political ends, as he will try to do next week when the Commons votes again on the EU Withdrawal Bill.

‘So it behoves us all to demonstrate discipline and unity of purpose in support of the Prime Minister.

‘We cannot allow ourselves to become divided and risk losing the precious chance to go on implementing policies that transform lives.’

Amber Rudd urged Tory MPs to back May in a the crunch Commons votes this week (Picture: PA)

Ministers – who have accepted just one of the 15 amendments to legislation – are confident of winning most of the votes when the bill returns to the Commons on Tuesday and Wednesday.

However, pro-EU Tory rebels believe they could be vulnerable on key measures including the customs union and a requirement for Parliament to have a decisive say over what happens next if it rejects a final Brexit deal.

With the government dependent on the DUP for its majority, Tory whips are expected to crank up the pressure on potential rebels to ensure they have the numbers when it comes to the divisions.

They may be boosted by support from a handful of pro-Brexit Labour MPs.