Steerpike Steerpike

Brexiteer plot flops: Anatomy of a failed coup

Brexiteers are trying to put on a brave face over the lack of 48 letters needed to trigger a confidence vote in the Prime Minister. Having begun the week certain that they would trigger a vote, they now claim they are giving May time to reconsider and they may move in December. So, what’s the truth – a kind gesture or a failed plot?

In order to let readers decide for themselves what went wrong, Mr S has gathered a timeline of events:

Thursday, 15th November

Theresa May’s deal is approved by Cabinet – minus a resignation or two. Henry Smith MP posts a photo of his no confidence letter on top of the withdrawal agreement (Mr Steerpike assumes this is a Brexiteer’s equivalent of a seductive selfie):

Jacob Rees-Mogg stages a press conference on the steps of Downing Street to announce he has sent his letter in. Steve Baker – the ringleader – confirms that he sent his back in October.

ERG member MP Anne Marie Morris declares that there is ‘no question’ that a confidence vote will be triggered this week.

Friday, 16th November

Steve Baker appears on Politics Live where he says that he counts the number of no confidence letters with 1922 committee chairman Grahan Brady at ‘pretty close’ the 48 required if not already there.

But is he beginning to doubt himself? ‘They will tell you they have put in letters in when they haven’t, they will take them out and not tell you they have them put them out , they will say they have submitted them when they haven’t, and so forth,’ he sighs of his colleagues.

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