Europhile MPs' plot EXPOSED: Ministers plan to SABOTAGE Brexit team in UK Parliament
GETTY Europe divide over British Brexit spreads through UK MPs
The cross-party europhile group is seeking a way to force Downing Street into making a play for a post-Brexit transition period. They are demanding the UK remains in the Open Skies aviation agreement, the customs union and Euratom, the nuclear regulator, the Financial Times reports. And as it is a cross-party plot, insiders claim groups will join together to defeat David Davis’ Brexit unit. One Tory MP said Westminster is so fractured, although the pro-EU MPs want to get a soft Brexit, they are strongly against scoring points for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. One said: “There is a measure of co-operation but none of us want to help [shadow chancellor] John McDonnell or Jeremy Corbyn.”
GETTY Europe's Brexit divide - Chuka Ummuna campaigned to stop UK/EU divorce
Tory Anna Soubry, Stephen Gethins from the SNP and Plaid Cymru’s Jonathan Edwards were among a group which met in the office of Labour’s Chuka Umunna before Parliament went out for summer recess. The group wants to issue its own policy paper and make amendments to the great repeal bill - which will convert EU laws in to British legislation, many of which can later be scrapped. Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru MPs which support the EU are also in internal turmoil over whether to join the movement. Traditionally their main rival has been Labour, and many will have to stand openly against Tory allies to make a stand for the EU.
Brexit transition phase: Cabinet splits three ways Thu, August 10, 2017 Who is pushing for the most gradual departure possible from the EU? And who favours a cleaner break? Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 15 HARD BREXIT: Andrea Leadsom
There is a sweet spot where we all agree, Labour backbenchers, some Tories, and the Labour leadership, it’s not easy, but it’s not impossible Labour MP
A Tory MP told the FT: “There are people who want to make noise and push the Government towards soft Brexit, but whether they are prepared to rebel at the end of the day is another matter.” One Labour MP was more optimistic, saying: “There is a sweet spot where we all agree, Labour backbenchers, some Tories, and the Labour leadership, it’s not easy, but it’s not impossible.” Mr Ummuna has called for the UK to stay in the EU single market sparking uproar in the Labour camp. Keir Starmer, shadow Brexit secretary has also threatened to vote against the repeal bill - however - with a different motive. Along with Corbyn, Starmer wants to have “full protection of rights for British workers and consumers, of environmental standards and the devolution of powers across the country”. But it is not clear if the pair will side with the backbenchers, or the group trying to take on the Tories. Meanwhile, an anti-Brexit campaign group wants to begin a programme of mass protests throughout September.
GETTY Europe wants Britain to remain in the European Union - and MP Anna Soubry wants soft Brexit