an online petition to cancel Brexit became the most popular ever...By Saturday night more than 4.6 million people had signed the petition on the parliament website, which states: “A People’s Vote may not happen – so vote now”.[ only 'vote' if you agree, of course]...Public discussion about halting Brexit was considered politically toxic until just days ago. But that shifted last week as the prospect of crashing out drew closer and the number of petition signatures rose dramatically.
A cross-party group of parliamentarians is now examining the possibility of cancelling the Brexit process, following concerns that Theresa May could end up backing Tory MPs who favour a no-deal departure if her own withdrawal agreement is rejected again. They are planning to table an amendment to Brexit legislation closer to the day of Britain’s scheduled departure from the EU....The European court of justice ruled late last year that Britain could unilaterally revoke article 50, although not just to buy time. Writing on theguardian.com, the Tory MP Phillip Lee said that the people had to be given an opportunity to reconsider Brexit [until they get it right] and that one way of allowing this to happen would be to revoke article 50. “Mrs May should ensure that the UK has the time and the space to do this in a properly considered way – either by seeking a long extension of article 50, or by taking back control [nice jibe] and revoking it altogether.”
Is there a contradiction between the million-strong march for a PV and this plot to launch a Parliamentary coup? Any attempt to weigh 4.6 million petitioners against 17.4 m who voted in the Referendum? Not for the Observer, with its conveniently instrumental view of voting and democracy -- any route to Remain will do, whether obtained by mass protest or elitist plot.
Such is the conviction that no deal would be 'a disater' or 'catastrophe', that the Tory party are plotting to remove May (difficult -- she has survived a leadership election and a no-confidence vote). The Observer,linked this with a second 'report' on the March:
One million join march against Brexit as Tories plan to oust May
Conservative MPs and ministers from both sides of the Brexit argument said May could not last in office for many more days – and Downing Street appeared to threaten them with a general election if her deal does not pass ... “No-deal is not going to happen. Parliament will not allow it,” said a senior No 10 source. “There are so many people opposed to this in parliament that there would be a confidence motion in the government before no-deal. That could mean a general election.”...On Monday a powerful group of backbench MPs will attempt to hand control of the Brexit process to parliament by securing indicative votes on alternative options for Brexit, including a soft, Norway-style option.
Downing Street had been expected to try for a third time to force May’s deal through parliament on Tuesday. However, with Tory support for her disappearing, her team will delay the vote if they conclude that she will be defeated again – an outcome that could see her forced to quit
A further piece elaborates:
Members of Theresa May’s cabinet believe she will have to resign this week should she allow a shift towards a soft Brexit, with angry Tory MPs examining ways to end her premiership. [but] ...Downing Street is also warning hardline Tories that parliament is so against a no-deal Brexit the government would be brought down before it could implement such an outcome...cabinet ministers on both sides of the Brexit debate made clear they were ready to quit if necessary....Pro-Remain ministers will not tolerate any endorsement of a no-deal Brexit. But some pro-Brexit ministers have said that May could not carry on in No 10 unless she backed a no-deal Brexit.
...some senior ministers are also warning that toppling her now would unleash a general election and a leadership fight that would be “toxic” for the Tories....Some assume that her de facto deputy, David Lidington, would take over. However, seen as a pro-Remain minister, he would also face serious challenges from Tory MPs if he attempted to engineer a soft Brexit. One minister said: “The idea that everyone would step back and allow David Lidington to deliver a soft Brexit is absurd.”...Tory MPs say some of the prime minister’s closest aides in Downing Street have been hinting that May could try to call a snap general election if her deal does not get through the Commons for the third time, as she believes support for it is stronger in the country than in parliament.
But Conservative MPs have made clear to Brady that they would work together to block an early election. Under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, two-thirds of the Commons would need to agree an early election.
One plan would see the meaningful vote held at the end of this week, should those [planned] indicative votes show that no other option could command a Commons majority. At the moment, several Tories are saying they believe May’s deal would be defeated by more than the 149-vote margin recorded at the second attempt. One government insider said: “There is a concern that we will go backwards.”
Requests for Theresa May to quit have been relayed to the prime minister and her team by both Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the backbench 1922 committee, and the chief whip....Some Tory MPs are so exasperated with May’s leadership that they want to change party rules, enabling another vote to have her removed. Under current rules, a failed attempt to oust her last year means another vote cannot be held until December....James Duddridge tweeted: “Conservative MPs could have an indicative vote of no confidence in the PM. It would be a secret vote and we would get over 2/3 of MPs wanting her to go at least, likely lots more. If indicative votes are good for the Commons they are good for the Conservative Party. #Resign.”
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