Jacob Rees-Mogg blasted Theresa May today over her decision to hold Brexit talks with Jeremy Corbyn, mockingly suggesting the hard Left politician was now the deputy prime minister.
The European Research Group chairman led a host of hardline eurosceptics who attacked the Prime Minister, suggesting she was seeking to collaborate with ‘a known Marxist’.
Her decision, announced live on television last night, prompted the resignation of junior Welsh minister Nigel Adams, the 35th member of the Government to quit in the last 12 months.
Former Cabinet minister Priti Patel was among those who rounded on Mrs May, who will sit down with the hard Left Labour leader after Prime Minister’s Questions this afternoon.
Mrs May and the opposition leader managed to largely avoid discussing Brexit at Prime Minister’s Questions as they sought to clear space before meeting in Parliament.
But earlier Mr Rees-Mogg had accused Mrs May of planning to collaborate with ‘a known Marxist’ – but ruled out toppling her.
‘I have more confidence in Theresa May than in Jeremy Corbyn, though that’s not necessarily a very high bar, and Mr Corbyn – even as deputy – is still not the prime minister,’ he told LBC.
‘Both Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May backed Remain. And the views of the 52 per cent who voted to leave the European Union are not being represented in this attempt at a coalition’.
Theresa May (pictured today at PMQs) told Tory MPs in a letter that ‘with some colleagues unwilling to support the Government’ working with Mr Corbyn was ‘the only way to deliver the smooth, orderly Brexit that we promised’
Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured today) is deeply unhappy with Mrs May’s compromise and said Jeremy Corbyn( pictured at PMQS today) is now deputy Prime Minister
And fellow Brexiteer Ms Patel, the former international development minister, tweeted: ‘A man who sides with terrorists and socialist dictators, would surrender our nuclear deterrent, has let anti-Semitism run rife in his Party and would bankrupt Britain has now been given the keys to Brexit’ while fellow rebel Andrew Bridgen said: ‘For the good of our country, our democracy, and the Conservative Party, she needs to go now’.
Mrs May sparked rebellion in her party after she used a humbling TV address following a seven-hour cabinet meeting to ask Mr Corbyn to help her ‘break the logjam’, offering him the chance of a customs union or a second referendum.
This morning junior Welsh minister Nigel Adams quit in disgust saying the PM had made a ‘grave error’ by ‘legitimising and turning to’ Jeremy Corbyn, telling her in his resignation letter: ‘It now seems that you have decided a deal – cooked up by a Marxist who has never put British interests first – is better than No Deal’.
Mrs May hit back with her own letter to all Tory MPs declaring ‘this impasse cannot go on’, and said: ‘With some colleagues unwilling to support the Government, this is the only way to deliver the smooth, orderly Brexit that we promised.’
She pointed the finger at Tory Brexiteers, remainer rebels and the DUP saying her deal will not pass without Labour support because ‘having tried three times, it is clear that is is unlikely to happen’.
Earlier, in a furious backlash Boris Johnson said the decision to hand control to Mr Corbyn meant the Cabinet had concluded ‘any deal is better than No Deal’.
He said: ‘It is very disappointing that the cabinet has decided to entrust the final handling of Brexit to Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party.
‘It now seems all too likely that British trade policy and key law making powers will be handed over to Brussels – with no say for the UK.
‘As it is, we now face the ridiculous possibility of being forced to contest the European elections more than three years after leaving the EU and having to agree to exit terms that in no way resemble what the people were promised when they voted to leave.
‘The PM and Cabinet have concluded that any deal is better than no deal, and this is truly a very bad deal indeed – one that leaves us being run by the EU. I can under no circumstances vote for a deal involving a customs union as I believe that does not deliver on the referendum.’
The PM’s DUP allies in Northern Ireland said last night: ‘The Prime Minister’s lamentable handling of the negotiations with the EU means she has failed to deliver a sensible Brexit deal that works for all parts of the United Kingdom. That is why she has not been able to get it through Parliament.
‘Her announcement therefore comes as little surprise. Though it remains to be seen if sub-contracting out the future of Brexit to Jeremy Corbyn, someone whom the Conservatives have demonised for four years, will end happily.
‘We want the result of the referendum respected, and just as we joined the Common Market as one country we must leave the EU as one country.
‘We will continue to use our position within Parliament and with the Government to argue strongly the case for Northern Ireland and the integrity of the United Kingdom.
‘We remain consistent in judging all Brexit outcomes against our clear unionist principles.’