Christchurch MP accuses top Tories of 'treacherous' behaviour over Brexit

CONSERVATIVE cabinet members have been attacked by Christchurch MP Sir Chris Chope for “treacherous” behaviour.

Sir Chris – who voted against the Prime Minister in the Tory leadership confidence ballot in December and rebelled on her EU withdrawal deal last week – made the allegation in the House of Commons amid public division between ministers.

The pro-Brexit Tory asked the Leader of the House, Andrea Leadsom, for a debate on “collective Cabinet responsibility and what it means in the current circumstances”.

Mrs Leadsom was also invited by Sir Chris to explain her “frustration” at the 2017 Conservative party manifesto being, he said, “undermined by treacherous comments from our own cabinet colleagues”.

She replied: “All my cabinet colleagues are absolutely in agreement that we will deliver on the will of the people as expressed in the referendum of 2016.”

Sir Chris had earlier attacked the Prime Minister during Labour’s failed no-confidence debate last week, branding her negotiating as “supine” and urging her not to rule out a no-deal Brexit.

He dismissed as “scaremongering” a warning by fellow Tory James Cartlidge that leaving without an agreement would mean, for example, WTO tariffs on lamb exporters of 40%.

There were complaints too from New Forest East MP Julian Lewis who speculated that the Prime Minister “reaching out” to opposition parties might dilute Brexit, which he supports.

He said: “If we are to take both sides of the house with us, and bearing in mind that a majority of honourable and right honourable members in this house are for remain and not for leave, does that not mean that the Prime Minister will end up with an even softer Brexit than the one she has proposed?”

On Monday he repeated his challenge to the Prime Minister to confirm the UK would leave the EU on 29th March “beyond a shadow of a doubt”.

Instead, Mrs May claimed her answer had not changed and she pointed out that “there is a date in legislation for us to leave – it is 29th March”.

Also in the Commons, Sir Desmond Swayne, of New Forest West, wanted to know what steps the government was taking to maintain animal care and protection standards after Brexit, and how there would be a crack-down on puppy farming.

Junior Defra minister David Rutley said: “The government has made it clear that our exit from the EU will not lead to a lowering of our high animal welfare standards.”

He also promised the government “will make sure” there is a ban on third-party sales of puppies and kittens, which it announced in December.

Sir Chris and Sir Desmond both fulfilled their promise to vote with the government on Labour’s no-confidence motion last week – as did Dr Lewis, who had previously warned the A&T that his support was conditional on the Prime Minister safeguarding Brexit.