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Brexit: Theresa May urged to quit to help deal pass Brexit: Ministers back Theresa May amid reports of a coup
(about 1 hour later)
Theresa May could gain support for her Brexit deal if she promises to stand down as prime minister, senior Conservatives have told the BBC. Senior ministers have dismissed reports of a cabinet coup to oust Theresa May.
MPs in the party have said they might reluctantly back the agreement if they know she will not be in charge of the next stage of negotiations with the EU. Chancellor Philip Hammond said talk of a change was "self indulgent" while Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said the PM "is in charge".
But the chancellor said changing prime ministers "wouldn't help", adding: "This isn't about individuals." David Lidington - one of those touted as a possible replacement - insisted: "I am 100% behind the prime minister."
No 10 has dismissed reports that Mrs May could be persuaded to stand aside. Mr Barclay told the BBC a general election would become more likely if MPs vote this week for a Brexit option the government does not want.
MPs are expected to get the chance to hold a series of so-called indicative votes on possible alternatives to Mrs May's withdrawal deal, but the Brexit secretary said they would "not be binding".
'Serious manoeuvring
Newspapers claim cabinet ministers are plotting a coup against the prime minister, aiming to replace her with a caretaker leader until a proper leadership contest is held later in the year.Newspapers claim cabinet ministers are plotting a coup against the prime minister, aiming to replace her with a caretaker leader until a proper leadership contest is held later in the year.
But there are differing accounts of who the preferred candidate is, with the Brexiteer and Remain wings of the party said to disagree. The suggestion is that Tory MPs might reluctantly back Mrs May's Brexit deal if they know she will not be in charge of the next stage of negotiations with the EU, but there are differing accounts of who the preferred candidate to replace her is.
One of those being touted as a possible replacement, David Lidington - Mrs May's de facto deputy - dismissed the rumours, insisting: "I am 100% behind the prime minister." The Sunday Times reports that Mr Lidington, Mrs May's de factor deputy who voted Remain, is being lined up, while the Mail on Sunday said the Brexiteer Environment Secretary Michael Gove was the "consensus choice".
'Self-indulgent' The BBC's political editor, Laura Kuenssberg says there is "serious manoeuvring" going on.
The prime minister has come under growing pressure to quit following a week in which she was forced to ask the EU for an extension to Article 50, and criticised for blaming the delay to Brexit on MPs.The prime minister has come under growing pressure to quit following a week in which she was forced to ask the EU for an extension to Article 50, and criticised for blaming the delay to Brexit on MPs.
The withdrawal deal she has negotiated with the EU has been overwhelmingly rejected in the Commons twice, and it remains unclear whether she will bring it back a third time next week after she wrote to MPs saying she would only do so if there was "sufficient support".The withdrawal deal she has negotiated with the EU has been overwhelmingly rejected in the Commons twice, and it remains unclear whether she will bring it back a third time next week after she wrote to MPs saying she would only do so if there was "sufficient support".
Chancellor Philip Hammond told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "This is not about the prime minister… changing prime ministers wouldn't help, changing the party of government wouldn't help." One senior backbencher told the BBC's Iain Watson that even standing aside would not be enough for her deal to be voted through, and that Mrs May might as well "dig in".
He denied reports he was hoping to parachute in Mr Lidington, who voted Remain, adding: "To be talking about changing the players on the board, frankly, is self indulgent at this time." Mr Hammond told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday: "This is not about the prime minister… changing prime ministers wouldn't help, changing the party of government wouldn't help."
He denied reports he was hoping to parachute in Mr Lidington as caretaker, adding: "To be talking about changing the players on the board, frankly, is self indulgent at this time."
Mr Hammond said he understood MPs were "very frustrated", but "one way or another Parliament is going to have an opportunity this week to decide what it's in favour of".Mr Hammond said he understood MPs were "very frustrated", but "one way or another Parliament is going to have an opportunity this week to decide what it's in favour of".
'Serious manoeuvring' Mr Lidington insisted Mrs May was "doing a fantastic job" and he had not desire to take over from her.
Other reports suggest the Brexiteer Environment Secretary Michael Gove is the "consensus choice" to be caretaker leader. Former Conservative leader and prominent Brexiteer Iain Duncan Smith told the BBC's Andrew Marr the disloyalty some cabinet ministers were showing to her was "appalling".
But one senior backbencher told the BBC's Iain Watson that even standing aside would not be enough for Mrs May's deal to be voted through, and that Mrs May might as well "dig in".
No 10 has also dismissed suggestions that she would agree a "job share" arrangement where senior ministers would be given extra responsibilities.
The BBC's political editor, Laura Kuenssberg says there is "serious manoeuvring" going on.
Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said the EU's decision to dismiss Mrs May's request to delay Brexit until 30 June and insist on its own timetable instead was "as close to being humiliated as any prime minister I've ever seen in Britain".
The prominent Brexiteer also told the BBC's Andrew Marr the disloyalty some cabinet ministers were showing to her was "appalling".
They should be censured, sacked, or at the very least "they should be apologising and they should shut up," he added.They should be censured, sacked, or at the very least "they should be apologising and they should shut up," he added.
'Crisis'
The leadership row comes ahead of a week where the PM is expected to lose further control over the Brexit process.The leadership row comes ahead of a week where the PM is expected to lose further control over the Brexit process.
A cross-party group of MPs will press for alternatives to her deal to be debated on Wednesday - something government sources expect to happen. In the coming days, as many as six other options, in addition to Mrs May's deal, could be put to indicative votes in order to see which are most popular. They are:
In the coming days, as many as six other options, in addition to Mrs May's deal, could be voted on in order to see which are most popular - so-called indicative votes. They are:
Mr Hammond said he would remove revoking Article 50 and a no-deal Brexit from the list, as "both of those would have very serious and negative consequences for our country".Mr Hammond said he would remove revoking Article 50 and a no-deal Brexit from the list, as "both of those would have very serious and negative consequences for our country".
On the subject of a second referendum, he said: "It is a coherent proposition and deserves to be considered, along with the other proposals."On the subject of a second referendum, he said: "It is a coherent proposition and deserves to be considered, along with the other proposals."
When asked whether MPs would get free votes on the propositions, Mr Hammond said it was something the government had not yet decided on, but Parliament had to come together and say what form of Brexit it is willing to accept. But Mr Barclay said there was a "crisis" because "Parliament is trying to take over the government".
A free vote means ministers and MPs can make their own mind up rather than following the orders of party whips - an unusual and rare move for a vote on a major policy. He said if MPs vote for a Brexit outcome at odds with the Tory manifesto - for example, in favour of maintaining single market membership - "the risk of a general election increases, because you potentially have a situation where Parliament is instructing the executive to do something that is counter to what it was elected to do".
Read the week ahead in ParliamentRead the week ahead in Parliament
'Put It To The People' What's happening this week?
Monday: MPs will debate the Brexit next steps and a number of amendments - possible alternatives - to the government plan will be put to a vote. One that could well succeed calls for a series of "indicative votes" in the Commons, run by Parliament, to see if a majority can be found for a different Brexit model.
Tuesday: Theresa May could bring her withdrawal deal back for the so-called third meaningful vote. But the government says it won't do that unless it's sure it has enough to support to win.
Wednesday: This is when indicative votes would be held - we don't know yet whether MPs will be free to vote how they want or be directed along party lines. The chances of any genuine cross-party consensus being achieved are not high.
Thursday: A second possible opportunity for meaningful vote three. The prime minister may hope that Brexiteers will finally decide to throw their weight behind her deal because indicative votes have shown that otherwise the UK could be heading for the sort of softer Brexit they would hate.
Friday: This was the day the UK was meant to leave the EU. The earliest that will now happen is 12 April.
On Saturday hundreds of thousands of people marched in central London to call for another EU referendum.On Saturday hundreds of thousands of people marched in central London to call for another EU referendum.
Protesters carrying EU flags and placards called for any Brexit deal be put to another public vote, with speakers including Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.Protesters carrying EU flags and placards called for any Brexit deal be put to another public vote, with speakers including Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
Organisers said the initial count showed more than a million people had turned up - putting it on a par with the biggest march of the century, the Stop the War march in 2003.Organisers said the initial count showed more than a million people had turned up - putting it on a par with the biggest march of the century, the Stop the War march in 2003.
Meanwhile, the woman behind a record-breaking anti-Brexit petition, retired lecturer Margaret Georgiadou, said she had received death threats over the poll. Meanwhile, the woman behind a record-breaking anti-Brexit petition - which has now received almost five million signatures - says she has received death threats over the poll.
Next steps
Earlier in the week, European leaders agreed to delay the UK's departure from the EU until at least 12 April, from 29 March.Earlier in the week, European leaders agreed to delay the UK's departure from the EU until at least 12 April, from 29 March.
If Mrs May's deal is approved by MPs next week, the EU has agreed to extend the Brexit deadline until 22 May.If Mrs May's deal is approved by MPs next week, the EU has agreed to extend the Brexit deadline until 22 May.
If it is not - and no alternative plan is put forward - the UK is set to leave the EU on 12 April.If it is not - and no alternative plan is put forward - the UK is set to leave the EU on 12 April.