John Baron MP urges Prime Minister to face down Ministers threatening to resign

MP says Prime Minister should respect Article 50

This afternoon the Prime Minister gave a statement following her meetings with EU leaders.

John said,

“I gently remind the Prime Minister that we trade profitably with the rest of the world outside the EU on mostly WTO/no deal terms, and urge her not to be deflected because Colleagues knew what they were voting for when they triggered Article 50. A key concern is that, at this crucial stage of the negotiations with the EU, the Prime Minister’s next steps will now make a good deal less likely, because the EU will hope Parliament will defeat ‘no deal’ and extend Article 50.”

“When I voted against the Iraq War, I accepted I had to resign as a Shadow Minister to do so. Has the time not come to face down those Ministers who threaten to resign so we get the best possible chance of a good deal?”

The Prime Minister responded that she would do all she could do secure a good deal.

John said afterwards,

“Ministers who threaten to resign unless ‘no deal’ is taken off the table undermine our negotiating position. If this were Government policy, the EU would be less likely to compromise knowing the UK could not walk away from the table. No minister is indispensable. Accepting Ministers’ resignations, or sacking them, would send a strong message to the EU that she is serious about her policy.”