When the week began, there was speculation that a group of ministers would resign over Theresa May’s Brexit stance. The Prime Minister had been warned that up to 22 members of government could quit unless she promised the chance for MPs to extend Article 50 if no deal looks likely. In the end, May blinked and paved the way for such a vote if her deal is rejected in two weeks’ time. However, that decision has led to a government resignation that few were expecting.
This afternoon George Eustice resigned as Defra minister over May’s promise to allow MPs a vote on delaying Brexit if her deal is rejected. In his resignation letter, Eustice said he worried that May’s offer could lead to ‘a sequence of events culminating in the EU dictating the terms of any extension requested and the final humiliation of our country’. In a rather small ray of light for May, the Conservative MP said he would still be voting for the government’s Brexit deal when it comes back to Parliament next month. However, if it is rejected, he will not support an extension to Article 50.
Tellingly, Eustice was one of the Leave-voting junior ministers May tried to give assurances to this week – telling him that she has no plans to agree to a lengthly Article 50 extension. The concern is that May will have little choice but to agree to one if Brussels refuses to grant a brief extension. Right now the government’s focus is on passing a deal within two weeks. However, if May fails to do that, she will face even more difficult choices that are sure to divide her party further.
If the Commons rejects May’s deal, the Prime Minister will have the unenviable task of deciding how to whip her party on a vote on delaying Brexit. There are a number of Leave-backing ministers who think at this point May should plump for no deal. However, were May to do that, many of her Remain minsters – including Amber Rudd and even David Lidington – could quit. Today’s resignation, however, serves as a reminder that should May back an Article 50 extension, she should expect resignations from Leave ministers. The Prime Minister’s best hope of keeping her party together is to somehow finds the votes to pass her deal before 12 March.
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