Rebel Tory MPs vote for amendment to stop no deal

Some of the Tories’ most loyal MPs cross the floor to support a Labour amendment that seeks to prevent a no-deal Brexit.

A pro-Europe demonstrator holds a flag outside the Houses of Parliament in London. Picture: AP.

Some of the Conservative party’s most loyal politicians have crossed the floor to support a Labour amendment to the finance bill in Westminster this morning, indicating their fierce opposition to a no-deal Brexit.

The finance bill amendment, tabled by Labour MP Yvette Cooper, is the first salvo of a guerrilla warfare campaign by politicians on both sides of the House to tie up various Brexit bills and assert control to stop the country crashing out of the European Union without a deal.

The amendment was passed 303 to 296, a humiliating loss for Theresa May’s government, and while the Democratic Unionist Party appeared to have supported the Conservatives, about 20 Tory rebels sided with Labour.

One of those was Sir Oliver Letwin, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, who told the Commons that he had only ever once voted against the government but he was convinced the country couldn’t cope with leaving without a deal.

”Some believe that they can be sure that under circumstances where they wreck the deal, we refuse to make all payments to the EU that are expected, we falsify their expectations of a reasonable departure, that they will then very reasonably set out to work with us in a calm and grown-up way to ensure a smooth departure,” Sir Oliver said.

Sir Nicholas Soames, another Tory grandee, also voted for the amendment.

Sir Oliver said he would continue to support further amendments that tie up any Brexit legislation.

Ms Cooper said she tabled the amendment because she was “really worried’’ that delays, drift or brinkmanship presented a serious risk of crashing out of the EU with no deal in just 80 days’ time”.

She said: ”And I think we have a responsibility not to just stand by. I believe the government should rule out no deal, but I think if it won’t then parliament must make sure that it has the powers to do so if it comes to the crunch.’’

Mrs May’s Brexit Withdrawal Bill is due to be put to the parliament next Wednesday morning AEDT and is still expected to be roundly defeated. Unless the PM can extract an EU deal that is palatable to the parliament, options such as a general election or second referendum could be triggered.

Tory MP Dominic Grieve told Sky News: “We have to start thinking sensibly as we are coasting into the biggest peacetime disaster in this country. We have to work together on cross party basis, if Mrs May’s deal is insufficient I hope she listens clearly and we come to a sensible outcome.

“Parliament is asserting its opinion. We will have to have more of this (rebellion) to get out of the current crisis. We should go to the public and ask if they want her deal or not and ask their opinion including whether to leave or not’’.