Tony Blair says Theresa May should pull next week’s crunch Brexit vote rather than ‘plunge’ ahead and suffer a humiliating defeat
- MPs are expected to vote down Theresa May’s Brexit deal by a massive majority
- Tony Blair said the PM has lost her grip and Tory Mps have decided to mutiny
- He said another referendum should be held as MPs are in a bitter stalemate
- Lashed calls for Norway deal and said options should be Remain or a true Brexit
Tony Blair today said Theresa May should pull next week’s crunch Brexit vote rather than ‘plunge’ ahead and suffer a massive and humiliating defeat.
Mrs May has vowed to press ahead despite predictions she could lose the vote by over 100 – a defeat which could deal her premiership a mortal blow.
But former Labour leader said there is no point in just running head-on into a defeat and that he would pull the vote if he was still in No10.
He also warned that Tory MPs have lost confidence in the PM on Brexit and have decided ‘mutiny is wiser than following the officer class into the abyss’.
Tony Blair (pictured last month on the BBC) said that Theresa May should pull next week’s crunch Brexit vote rather than ‘plunge ahead’ and suffer a massive and humiliating defeat
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And the arch Remainer renewed his call for a second Brexit referendum – saying that with MPs bitterly divided over the future the only option is to ‘go to the people’.
The ex PM made the comments as he made a rare return to Parliament to give a speech to political journalists at a lunch today.
Tony Blair lashes calls for the UK to opt for a Norway-style Brexit deal
Tony Blair today lashed plans for the UK to opt for a Norway-style Brexit deal.
A group of Labour MPs and Tories – including some ministers – want the country to get a Norway plus deal.
This would see the UK stay in the single market and customs unions rules, meaning it would have to keep free movement.
But speaking at a press gallery lunch today, the former PM was scathing about the prospect of the deal.
He Brexit voters would see Norway as a betrayal of the referendum.
Shaking his head, he said: ‘I hear talk of Norway, no.
‘Norway is not going to work. Norway is going to be subject to an even greater degree of attack from people who voted Brexit.
‘I remember the words of a senior Norway politician who said “if you want to run the EU stay in the EU, if you want to be run by the EU come and join us by the EEA.’
He said: ‘As to whether Theresa May calls the vote or not, if I were her I would just understand that this is a situation where you are going to have to work out if it is possible for any option to command a majority.
‘I don’t personally think it is very sensible to just to plunge along and be defeated very heavily. What does that tell you?’
Mr Blair said that he has ‘100 per cent personal sympathy’ for Mrs May and the sheer hard work she has put into the talks.
But he said she has lost her grip and the confidence of her backbenchers, who have risen up against her in a revolt which threatens to torpedo her Brexit plan.
He said: ‘As time has gone on, the sense of grip necessary for Government credibility has eroded, and the foot soldiers have eventually concluded that mutiny is a is a wiser than following the officer class into the abyss.’
The ex Labour leader said Parliament has risen up and put itself ‘in command’ of the talks after voting to earlier this week to give the Commons the power to instruct the PM if her deal is defeated next week.
He lased the PM’s plan and said the only way out of the parliamentary gridlock is to hold another referendum.
He added: ‘I think it is very hard to look at that Brexit vote and say they mandated Norway.
‘I think it is hard to say, though easier to say, that they mandated Canada.
‘But one thing is absolutely clear in my view – they didn’t mandate a half in half out, where you are not clear what you are doing and you are arguing for a forever and a day through the transition period through an extended transition period and afterward.’
Theresa May (pictured today with husband Philip unveiled her official Christmas card today) is facing mounting pressure to pull next week’s Brexit deal vote maid warnings she will lose it by 100 or more
Environment Secretary Michael Gove (left) and Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom (right) were among the ministers at the meeting in No10 today
Several Cabinet ministers have urged the PM to pull next week’s crunch vote and return to Brussels to try to squeeze more concessions out of the EU.
And the PM sparked fevered speculation that she may be about to bow to their pressure after she summoned senior ministers to Downing Street this afternoon.
Sir Graham Brady, chair of the powerful Tory backbench 1922 committee, also waded into the row this evening by saying he would ‘welcome’ a delay to the vote.
Mrs May held around an hour of talks with ministers including Philip Hammond, Amber Rudd, Sajid Javid, Liam Fox, David Lidington, David Gauke, Andrea Leadsom, Michael Gove and Stephen Barclay.
But afterwards Downing Street confirmed that there is still no prospect of the showdown next Tuesday being called off. Sources told MailOnline the meeting was ‘taking stock’ of the situation.
Earlier, Mrs May struck a defiant tone as she warned there is no other deal on the table, and that killing her proposal off would either end up with the UK crashing out of the EU – or Brexit not happening at all.
In interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mrs May said her fear was that ‘Parliament in some way frustrates Brexit’.
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