Brexiteers locked in a war of words in WhatsApp group over whether to back Theresa May’s deal
BREXITEERS were engaged in a war of words on WhatsApp last night over backing Theresa May’s EU deal.
Several Eurosceptics will continue to reject the deal – but several will now come round to back Number 10’s approach.
Daniel Kawczynski, who will now back the deal, told colleagues to “stay united in order to maintain the influence it has created”.
He said: “Let’s get this over the line, leave the EU and start our long journey of managing ever greater sovereignty for our scrutiny.”
He added that local activists were “tired of infighting” and there was a need to “heal the rifts and coming together again”.
Brexiteers who changed their mind for the second vote on the PM’s deal included ex-Brexit Secretary David Davis and backbencher Philip Davies.
But hard-line Tories were refusing to move position under pressure from party bosses ahead of this week’s vote.
As the law stands, the UK will leave the EU on March 29.
One colleague replied that if there was a delay “it will cause outrage in the party and in the country”.
They added: “We will suffer massive electoral damage and many of us will lose our seats.”
Another said the vote is likely to go down due to the hardline members of the European Research Group known as the “gang of 15”.
The MP added: “Be in the right place for the right reasons or forever be marked by a vote…that wll never pass in any event. We all have significant soul searching to be done.”
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Ministers were also in contact with Labour MPs who could vote for the deal this week. Many are demanding Parliament have a say on shaping future relations with the EU.
One ex-shadow Minister, Emma Kewell-Buck, who stepped down after voting against a second public vote, revealed she could vote for Mrs May’s deal.
She said: “If it comes down to either voting for Theresa May’s deal, having no deal or not leaving then I’ll end up voting for her deal, because I’ll be backed into a corner.”
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