A senior minister has warned than any attempt to push Theresa May from office would result in “collapse and disarray” in the British government.
Sir Alan Duncan insisted Tory MPs seeking to oust the Prime Minister represented a fringe element in the party, and that removing her was not a credible option.
The Foreign Office minister’s comments come as the The Independent revealed how Brexiteers have given Ms May an ultimatum that she must switch to pursuing a Canada-style free trade arrangement or leave, if her plans are rejected by parliament.
Ireland’s deputy prime minister Simon Coveney hit back last night, accusing leading arch-Brexiteers of peddling “crazy” ideas about the impact of a no deal withdrawal from the EU.
Warning against any move to replace the PM, Sir Alan told the BBC: “The main body of opinion in the middle and right to the edges is absolutely solidly behind her.
“Because the idea that we can go for anybody else at the moment is just folly. It would lead to collapse and disarray. It’s not a credible option.”
Senior Conservative figures said on Saturday that it would be impossible for Ms May to try to further negotiate on her Chequers proposals if they are rejected by parliament or the EU.
Instead, she would be told only full acceptance of the kind of arrangement put forward by Boris Johnson, David Davis, Jacob Rees-Mogg and others would allow her to avoid a Tory vote of no confidence.
But it cameras Mr Coveney singled out leading Brexiteers like Mr Johnson and Mr Rees-Mogg for criticism, while also urging Ms May to bring forward proposals to break the deadlock in Brexit talks.
When it was put to him that Brexiteers believe the Republic would not erect a border in a no deal scenario, Mr Coveney told Channel Four News: “That is a crazy argument.”
In another swipe at Brexiteers, Mr Coveney told the channel: “You can’t say we’re leaving the single market, customs union, and have our own free trade agreements and we have to have seamless access to your market too.
“I always say when I’m confronted with comments that Boris Johnson has said, or Jacob Rees-Mogg has said, or indeed, Owen Paterson have said – you know, fine people who I know and I’ve worked with in other areas – I believe that they are not describing the full picture or its complexity in Ireland and the challenges we face here.”
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