Theresa May is set for a clash with backbench Brexiteers over plans to water down post-Brexit immigration controls.
The Prime Minister is looking at plans to give EU nationals a deal ‘very similar’ to current free movement rules.
Under the plans, EU nationals will be given preferential access to move to the UK for work and to access benefits and the NHS.
The leaked document, known as the ‘labour mobility partnership’, was drawn up by Amber Rudd’s team at the Home Office, The Sunday Times reported.
But an unnamed member of the European Research Group, headed by Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, tore into the plan.
The member told the newspaper: ‘The plan seems to be to re-badge what we’ve got at the moment, so that no control would have been taken back.’
The brewing row over immigration controls comes as Mrs May faces a fresh threat to her Brexit plans in the House of Lords this week.
The Prime Minister (pictured walking to church in Maidenhead today with her husband Philip) is looking at plans to give EU nationals a deal ‘very similar’ to current free movement rules, it has been reported
But Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, head of the influential pro-Brexit group the European Research Group, tore into the plan, saying it falls far short of taking back control of the UK’s borders (file pic)
Peers have tabled a slew of wrecking amendments to the crucial EU Withdrawal Bill designed to force her hand in negotiations.
The Lib Dems are pushing for an amendment which would make the PM hold a referendum on the final Brexit deal.
Lord Newby, the Lib Dem leader in the House of Lords, is pushing for a clause which would force the government to hold a referendum if both the Commons and the Lords voted for one.
The move would infuriate the millions of people who voted for Brexit and were told it was a once in a generation choice.
It comes after peers last week inflicted a crushing defeat on the Government’s Brexit Bill by voting to stay in the EU customs union in defiance of the Prime Minister’s plans
Lord Newby, the Lib Dem leader in the House of Lords (pictured in Parliament) , is pushing for a clause which would force the government to hold a referendum if both the Commons and the Lords voted for one.
Mrs May has vowed to take the UK out of the EU single market and customs union so that the country can strike new free trade deals around the world.
But her EU immigration plans, published in The Independent and The Sunday Times, suggests she is watering down her red line to regain control of Britain’s borders.
Meanwhile, Remainer peers are busy trying to sabotage her plans by passing amendments to the Brexit Bill which aim to send her back to Brussels with watered-down demands.
Internal Tory splits on the issue were exposed last week when Ms Rudd hinted that the issue of staying in the custom s union was still being debated in Cabinet.
She scrambled to try to U-turn on the remark insisting that the UK is leaving the customs union.
But her comment sparked anger among Brexiteer MPs who said she could not stay in the Cabinet if she does not back the pledge to leave the customs unions.