Tory quits the ERG warning Brexit is in jeopardy
Brexiteer MP Daniel Kawczynski. Photograph: Sky News. - Credit: Archant
A Tory MP has quit the pro-Brexit European Research Group (ERG) warning that it is putting Britain's departure from the EU in jeopardy.
Daniel Kawczynski said the government needed to get Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement - which a number of ERG members continue to oppose - through Parliament if they were to ensure Britain finally leaves.
'I don't wish to be affiliated to a caucus ... which I now perceive to be part of the problem in actually getting the Withdrawal Agreement across the finishing line,' he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
'From a practical perspective there are elements now within that caucus that are preventing this Withdrawal Agreement going through and therefore inevitably that will lead to possibly no Brexit at all, and that is not something I wish to contemplate. I think we should protect Brexit.'
Kawczynski said he opposed a call from ERG deputy chairman Mark Francois for Tory MPs to have a vote to show they had lost faith in May, even though party rules prevent another formal leadership challenge until December.
You may also want to watch:
'I do disagree with Mark Francois on that. I don't think the time has come for another leadership contest. I think we have to abide by the rules our party has set,' he said.
Most Read
- 1 Nigel Farage loses nearly 50,000 followers after Twitter suspends QAnon accounts
- 2 Fifteen ways to fix Britain
- 3 Michel Barnier tells UK to be 'very careful' in Brexit diplomatic status row
- 4 This chumocracy is costing our country
- 5 Bob Geldof takes swipe at No 10 saying 'lying is second nature' to them
- 6 Independent SAGE adviser gives scathing assessment of Priti Patel's £800 Covid fines
- 7 George Osborne hopes for Brexit dividend
- 8 Holyrood in talks with EU to extend Erasmus scheme to Scottish students
- 9 Jacob Rees-Mogg says it's 'all the EU's fault' musicians can't tour Europe
- 10 Tory minister admits UK rejected EU's music visa offer in order to 'take back control' of borders
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
