Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg joined forces with the DUP to launch an ambush on Theresa May’s Brexit deal within minutes of it emerging last night.
Tory rebels dramatically marched to Parliament’s Central Lobby – flanked by the bloc of DUP MPs who are supposed to be propping up Mrs May in No 10 – to hold court with journalists.
In a furious briefing before a deal was even confirmed by Downing Street, they derided it as ‘totally unacceptable’ because it would leave the UK a ‘vassal state’ under the yolk of EU control.
Mr Johnson and Mr Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Brexiteer European Research Group, renewed their attack on the plans today demanding the Cabinet throw out the plan.
Boris Johnson was live on TV in central lobby within minutes of the deal emerging last night (pictured) as the Tory rebels launched an ambush on the plans
Jacob Rees-Mogg also took to the airwaves while members of his European Research Group briefed journalists in the background (pictured)
Last night’s ambush began within minutes of details being leaked to the Irish broadcaster RTE at around 4pm.
Just 90 minutes later the rebel MPs were speaking live to broadcasters just feet from the Commons chamber having arrived from Iain Duncan Smith’s office.
The condemnation of the plans had started before Downing Street had even confirmed it had a deal and Mrs May would meet Cabinet ministers one-on-one before a crucial meeting later today.
Mr Rees-Mogg and his deputy Mark Francois, stood side by side with the DUP’s Nigel Dodds to condemn the plan.
The remarkable show of unity between the Tory Brexiteers and the northern Irish party propping the PM up in No10 will alarm Mrs May’s aides.
Surrounded by over a dozen political reporters, they warned the proposal looked like it would breach their Brexit red lines and urged Cabinet ministers to rebel over it.
As the trio briefed the press, other leading Conservative Eurosceptics were stood in the busy lobby – ready to be quoted attacking the PM’s plan.
Among them was Mr Johnson, who arrived shortly after details of the Brexit plan began leaking out to give an interview to Sky News to urge the Cabinet to reject it.
Last night’s ambush began within minutes of details being leaked to the Irish broadcaster RTE at around 4pm (pictured)
While ex Tory leader Mr Duncan Smith stood nearby, to warn the PM’s days would be numbered if she pushed on with her deal.
Mr Rees-Mogg started the briefing of journalists declaring: ‘If the deal is as in the terms set out and leaked to the Irish… then the cabinet should reject it.
Mr Rees-Mogg and his deputy Mark Francois, stood side by side with the DUP’s Nigel Dodds (pictured on Sunday) to condemn the plan
‘It isn’t a proper Brexit and would leave us more under control of the European Union than we are. They should vote it down, make it clear they can’t support it.’
Mr Francois warned the Cabinet: ‘What members of the cabinet do over the next 24 hours is the most important thing that they do in their lives.
‘They have an opportunity to stand up for their country and defend its destiny.’
Mr Dodds – who dramatically arrived alongside the Tory rebels – declared: ‘If that means taking the rules and laws set in Brussels, not in Westminster or Belfast, that’s unacceptable.’
Mr Johnson renewed his attack on the plans today, warning the divorce deal was set up as the ‘minimum basis for our future trading relationship’ – making a Canada-style final settlement impossible.
He said: ‘Cabinet must live up to its responsibilities and stop this deal.’
Mr Johnson renewed his attack on the plans today (pictured), warning the divorce deal was set up as the ‘minimum basis for our future trading relationship’ – making a Canada-style final settlement impossible
Mr Rees-Mogg lashed it in today’s Telegraph and warned: ‘The deal that is proposed is not in the national interest, does not keep faith with early commitments and will not succeed.’
Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage denounced the plan as ‘the worst deal in history’.
Mrs May is engaged in frantic efforts to win over wavering ministers to the blueprint ahead of the meeting this afternoon.
But she suffered a major blow this morning when it emerged Michel Barnier’s deputy, Sabine Weyand, boasted about the divorce package in a briefing for Brussels officials.
She apparently claimed the UK will have to ‘align their rules but the EU will retain all the controls’, bragging that Britain is effectively accepting staying in the customs union for good, and will have to ‘swallow’ demands over fishing waters.
The extraordinary comments will reaffirm the fears of Brexiteers – and could tip ministers over the edge ahead of a potentially explosive Cabinet meeting this afternoon.