Tory rebel demands unity government over Brexit shambles

Conservative former minister Anna Soubry has called for a government of national unity Photo: PA - Credit: PA Archive/PA Images

Tory rebel and leading Remainer Anna Soubry has blasted the government in a stinging rebuke at Theresa May’s Brexit shambles.

She even went as far as calling for a government of national unity to deal with Brexit made up of Plaid Cymru, the SNP and ‘other sensible, pragmatic’ MPs.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘We simply cannot go on like this.’

Soubry said the whipping operation during Brexit votes on Tuesday evening had been an ‘appalling spectacle’.

‘These nonsenses of threatening general elections and votes of confidence in the prime minister and as I actually said to the deputy chief whip ‘bring it on’ because I shall be the first in the queue to give my vote of full confidence in the prime minister,’ she said.

‘Problem is, I don’t think that she’s in charge anymore. I’ve no doubt Jacob Rees-Mogg is running our country.’

And Tory chairman Brandon Lewis came under fire for taking part in the two crunch votes despite being ‘paired’ with Liberal Democrat deputy leader Jo Swinson, who is on maternity leave – an agreement meaning he should have sat out the divisions.

He apologised, claiming it was an ‘honest mistake’ made by the Tory whips in ‘fast-moving circumstances’, but Swinson said it was deliberate ‘cheating’.

The fall out from the Brexit votes continued as May faces another day of potential turmoil as she spars with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for the final time before the summer recess and then a session before the Liaison Committee, made up of senior MPs who chair Commons select committees.

There is also the looming threat of a damning resignation speech by former foreign secretary Boris Johnson where he could chose to attack the prime minister over her Chequers proposals.