A Cabinet minister has warned that a general election is 'the last thing the country needs right now' as Britain is gripped by Brexit protests following Theresa May's failure to pass her deal on Friday.
Thousands descended on Westminster last night and the chaos continued this morning when a lone protester stopped Eurostar trains for hours by climbing onto the roof of London St Pancras station.
The anger comes as rebel MPs are set to try and force through a soft Brexit next week and the country's departure from the EU looks almost certain to be delayed by many months.
Chris Grayling voiced his opposition to a general election after Mrs May signalled the nation could be going to the polls following her defeat in the Commons.
The Transport Secretary said Mrs May and her Cabinet would hold discussions this weekend on how to go proceed, but warned that an election would be a last resort because of the chaos it would bring.
Eurostar suspended all services to and from St Pancras due to a trespasser who appeared to be a man waving a St George flag whilst standing on the roof of a terminal
The station was crowded with frustrated passengers and their belongings as the incident caused delays this morning
Pictured: St Pancras station as Eurostar trains were stopped for hours after a demonstrator climbed onto a terminal roof
At 8.44am National Rail announced that the trespass incident at London St Pancras International had ended allowing all lines to reopen, but disruption to services will continue until 11am
Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson cycles in south London this morning following the Prime Minister's defeat
Britain is gripped by Brexit protests following Theresa May's failure to pass her deal on Friday (pictured: Demonstrators block traffic in Trafalgar Square)
Demonstrators clash with police officers during a pro-Brexit rally in Parliament Square last night as the crisis deepens
March to Leave protesters are pictured outside Number 10 Downing Street last night as chaos continues to grip the nation
Brexit supporters were pictured burning a European Union flag near Trafalgar Square following the March to Leave protest
Brexit supporters joined together in protest on the day the United Kingdom was due to leave the European Union
The country is now facing the chaos of a general election to break the Brexit deadlock (pictured: Officers clash with demonstrators in London)
He told Sky News: 'I think the last thing this country needs right now is a general election, we have got to sort out the Brexit process.
'We cannot throw everything up in the air. I know Jeremy Corbyn might like it, it is why he has voted against his own policy today, but I do not see how this country benefits from the chaos of a six or seven week general election campaign.'
Mr Grayling, who ran Mrs May's 2016 leadership campaign, said he did not believe the Prime Minister should step down yet.
'Theresa May has already said she is going to go, but in the middle of this situation I do not think it would help to have an immediate Conservative leadership contest,' he said.
The Prime Minister could call an early election, giving just six weeks' notice, if she has the backing of two-thirds of MPs, according to the Fixed-term Parliaments Act.
Another route to a general election would be if a motion of no confidence in the Government is passed by a majority of MPs and no alternative government is formed within 14 days.
Conservative ministers and MPs are likely to demand that Mrs May is replaced by a new party leader before an election takes place.
The timetable and rules for a leadership contest would be set by the 1922 executive committee and then approved by the Conservative party's board.
'No deal? No problem!' Brexiteers are pictured burning a European Union flag during protests in Trafalgar Square last night
The Prime Minister could call an early election, giving just six weeks' notice, if she has the backing of two-thirds of MPs (pictured: Brexit supporters block traffic in Trafalgar Square)
Another route to a general election would be if a motion of no confidence in the Government is passed by a majority of MPs and no alternative government is formed within 14 days (pictured: Protesters in Trafalgar Square)
'I fear we are reaching the limits of this process in this House,' Theresa May said yesterday after her deal was rejected again
Minutes after the Prime Minister's deal was rejected she signalled a general election could now be on its way for the country
There will almost certainly be division over what the party's manifesto policy on Brexit would be, with many backbenchers likely to stand with their own individual pledges.
Former Conservative cabinet minister Nicky Morgan has said that there may have to be a government of national unity to end the deadlock over Brexit, telling the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: 'It may well be that if you end up with a cross-party approach to finding a majority in the House of Commons, it might be that you need a cross-party approach to implementing it.
'There have been periods in our history when we have had national unity governments or a coalition for a very specific issue.'
Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis rejected the idea of a government of national unity, saying it would not 'change the parliamentary maths'.
Labour shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald has said he believes it is possible for MPs to achieve a consensus on the way forward on Brexit in next week's indicative votes in the Commons.
Mr McDonald said he believed the SNP could now be prepared to support a proposal for a customs union tabled by veteran Tory former cabinet minister Ken Clarke, which Labour also backs.
A man holds a flag with the words 'leave means leave' in front of the Winston Churchill statue as protesters rallied yesterday
Tens of thousands of 'betrayed' Brexiteers descended on London yesterday to celebrate Theresa May's latest EU defeat
Crowds marched from south London along the River Thames to Whitehall last night holding 'leave means leave' placards
'I strongly suspect that they may be prepared to get on board on with that particularly option,' he said.
A general election could see voters facing three ballots in quick succession as it would require a Brexit delay, meaning the country would need to hold European Parliament elections on May 23.
Local elections are scheduled to take place across much of the country on May 2.
Conservative chairman Mr Lewis gave his backing to the prominent pro-Remain Tory MP Dominic Grieve after he suffered a vote of no confidence by his local party.
Chairman of the Beaconsfield Constituency Conservative Association Jackson Ng said the no confidence vote motion was passed at the association's annual general meeting on Friday.
Mr Grieve, a former attorney general, was one of the MPs behind the cross-party move to seize control of Commons business to stage a series of indicative votes on alternatives to Theresa May's deal.
The opposition in the constituency to Mr Grieve is reported to have been organised by the former Ukip candidate who stood against him in the 2017 general election, Jon Conway.
Beaconsfield narrowly voted for Leave in the 2016 referendum by a majority of just 570 votes.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn yesterday demanded that Mrs May step aside so a general election can be held. Following the Government defeat, he told the Commons: 'This is now the third time the Prime Minister's deal has been rejected. When it was defeated the first time, the Prime Minister said it was clear this House does not support the deal.
'Does she now finally accept this House does not support the deal? Because she seemed to indicate just now that she is going to return to this issue again.
'The House has been clear this deal now has to change. If the Prime Minister can't accept that then she must go.'
After her deal failed to win the support of MPs last night Mrs May told the Commons: 'I fear we are reaching the limits of this process in this House.'
The Prime Minister also hinted that she may have yet another attempt at pushing her withdrawal deal through the Commons next week.
Her fourth attempt can only come after rebel MPs hold a second round of indicative votes on alternatives to her deal on Monday.
Crowds cheer as ex-Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: 'I believe that what's happened over the course of two years is actually one of the saddest and worst chapters in the history of our nation'
One pro-Brexit protestor, draped in English and British flags, carried a cardboard coffin labelled 'democracy' yesterday
Brexiteers were seen proudly holding the burning EU flag while others took photos near Trafalgar Square last night
Police officers lined up outside the Downing Street security gates this evening as pro-Brexit demonstrations continued
It is believed speaker John Bercow will only hold votes on the options that were closest to passing, including staying in the customs union or holding a second referendum.
The news comes after the EU warned a 'no-deal' scenario is 'likely', following yesterday's defeat for the PM.
Yesterday the Prime Minister confirmed that she will step down within weeks if Parliament approves her deal.
She made the offer at a private meeting of Tory MPs, then told the Commons: 'I have said I am prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended to secure the right outcome for this country.'
Downing Street refused three times to deny that Mrs May was now considering going to the polls. If a national vote is held it would be the third general election in just four years.
Last night former Bank of England governor Lord Mervyn King said the UK should now leave the EU without a deal, but with a six-month delay to ensure adequate preparation.
Lord King, who was governor of the Bank of England from 2003 to 2013, insisted there was little evidence leaving on World Trade Organisation terms would lead to job losses.
Furious Theresa May blasts John Bercow for wrecking her Brexit withdrawal agreement by blocking all amendments before MPs rejected it for a third time
John Bercow delivered another blow to the Tories by blocking an amendment from Labour MPs that could have swing behind the deal. Mrs May was defeated
Furious Theresa May had a pop at John Bercow for wrecking her Brexit withdrawal agreement by blocking all amendments before MPs rejected it for a third time
Theresa May blasted Bercow for intervening to wreck her Brexit plans again as he blocked all amendments to her deal today.
One of the proposals the Speaker barred was tabled by Labour backbencher Gareth Snell and sought to guarantee Parliament a say on the trade talks phase of the negotiations.
Attorney General Geoffrey Cox said the Government would have accepted the amendment if it had come to a vote - meaning it could have brought some Labour MPs on board and helped Mrs May win today.
Before the vote on her Brexit deal last night, Theresa May said it was unfortunate that the Speaker had not selected the Labour amendment because the government would have accepted it.
She said: 'Mr Speaker, if you had selected the amendment in the name of the honourable member for Stoke on Trent Central and others, the Government would have accepted it, and if this motion carries today we will bring forward a withdrawal agreement bill that will include commitments to implement that amendment and will discuss the specific drafting of that with those who supported the amendment.'
The Speaker has already come under fire for his alleged Remain sympathies, and was accused of sabotaging a third vote on May's deal before the EU summit last week by saying she had to change the deal before it could be brought back to the commons.
In the hope of salvaging her concessions, Mrs May promised MPs she would make sure laws implementing the deal still reflect the plan in the event she pulls off an unlikely victory.
Brexit supporters shout through megaphones and carry placards saying 'My leave vote matters, I won't be gagged'
One man in a Union flag shirt holds an American flag over his shoulder as the Brexiteer group march towards College Green
Nigel Farage made an appearance at the protest surrounded by supporters holding Believe in Britain signs yesterday
The Brexit Betrayal: On the day we should have left the EU, Corbyn conspires with Brexiteers to block deal AGAIN plunging Britain into chaos
by Jason Groves and John Stevens for the Daily Mail
Britain was in political paralysis last night after Jeremy Corbyn allied with hardline Eurosceptics to block Brexit.
On the day the UK was meant to leave the EU, MPs threw out Theresa May's withdrawal deal by 344 votes to 286 – wrecking hopes of an orderly departure.
Britain faces having to hold European Parliament elections in May – almost three years after the referendum.
Mrs May even said a general election might be needed to break the deadlock, telling the Commons: 'I fear we are reaching the limits of the process in this House.' Her solicitor general Robert Buckland said: 'The prospect of no Brexit is becoming a very real one indeed.'
Jeremy Corbyn yesterday ordered his MPs to vote against a stripped-down version of Mrs May's exit plan, which Labour had previously indicated it could accept.
Britain was in political paralysis last night after Jeremy Corbyn allied with hardline Eurosceptics to block Brexit
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaking after the government's withdrawal agreement was voted down for the third time in the House of Commons on Friday
Immediately following the Government's defeat, the Labour leader called for an election – without offering any solution to resolve the crisis.
Thirty-four Tory rebels, including 28 Brexit hardliners dubbed the Spartans, also voted to reject the withdrawal agreement. Tory chairman Brandon Lewis said: 'Labour just voted against Brexit on Brexit Day. Whatever they say, they don't want us to leave the EU. Labour's promise to honour the referendum result lies in tatters.'
Government sources suggested Mrs May's plan could be put to MPs for a fourth time next week – possibly in a 'run-off' against a soft Brexit option, such as a customs union.
However, Speaker John Bercow has ruled against repeated votes on the same matter.
As supporters of Brexit rallied in Parliament Square:
- Mrs May confirmed publicly that she would leave Downing Street 'earlier than I intended' in a bid to heal Tory divisions;
- Ministers prepared to ask the EU for a further delay to Brexit at an emergency Brussels summit on April 10;
- Tory leadership contenders Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab dropped their opposition and voted for the withdrawal agreement;
- A cross-party group of MPs led by Sir Oliver Letwin and Yvette Cooper said they would try to persuade Parliament to back a soft Brexit on Monday;
- The European Commission said a No Deal Brexit was now a 'likely' scenario;
- The DUP's deputy leader Nigel Dodds said he would rather remain in the EU than risk the break-up of the United Kingdom.
Government sources suggested Mrs May's plan could be put to MPs for a fourth time next week, but speaker John Bercow has ruled against repeated votes on the same matter
Mrs May, the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom and Attorney General Geoffrey Cox listen as Deputy leader of the DUP Nigel Dodds speaks in the House of Commons on Friday
Solicitor General Robert Buckland (centre right) points at the frontbench of the opposition party next to Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond (right)
Mrs May yesterday dropped the political declaration element of her exit package and let MPs vote only on the withdrawal agreement, which includes the divorce bill, 21-month transition period, protections for citizens' rights and the Irish backstop.
Britain faces a hung Parliament if another general election is held
Sir John Curitce's latest numbers suggest a near identical Commons would be returned - accept with slightly weaker Tory and Labour parties in a more hung parliament
If No 10 does call another general election Britain faces another hung Parliament, according to the latest polling on the issue.
The majority of public is also opposed to going back to the polls to break the Brexit deadlock at Westminster.
But Theresa May may be forced to call a possible snap general election within weeks if she loses because remainer MPs will try to force her to deliver a soft Brexit or a second referendum.
Now she has lost MPs are preparing to force a soft Brexit and long delay to leaving the EU upon May next week.
No 10 has threatened to call a general election rather than be forced into a soft Brexit - but looming over that threat is a new forecast of what might happen in a snap election by polling expert Sir John Curtice.
But Sir John's latest numbers suggest a near identical Commons would be returned - accept with slightly weaker Tory and Labour parties in a more hung parliament.
The figures suggest even the dramatic step of a new general election would do little to break the stalemate.
The PM hopes this bleak outlook will persuade Labour MPs to back it as the party has accepted the divorce deal - but she is set to be disappointed. She needs 75 more votes than she got on March 12 to win.
Polls since the 2017 election have seen the two main parties mostly neck and neck. The Tories have held a narrow lead in recent months
Opening the debate, Attorney General Geoffrey Cox said Labour had 'not emitted a peep of disagreement with a single clause or article of that agreement, and their position today is that they intend to vote it down. What kind of cynicism is that?'
Mr Corbyn said Labour would never support a 'blind Brexit' shorn of the political declaration that sets out a vision for the UK's future relationship with the EU.
Ahead of the vote, the pro-Corbyn Momentum group suggested MPs could face deselection if they backed the withdrawal agreement, saying: 'After years of botched negotiations, it's time for all Labour MPs to reject May's abysmal deal once and for all. Any Labour MP voting for a deal that leaves us with an uncertain future is undeserving of being a Labour MP.'
Only five Labour MPs voted with the Government.
The 34 Conservative MPs who voted against the exit plan included hardliners from the European Research Group, such as former ministers Steve Baker, Priti Patel and Owen Paterson. They were joined by Remainers including Dominic Grieve and Justine Greening.
Mr Baker said: 'I regret to say it is time for Theresa May to follow through on her words and make way so that a new leader can deliver a withdrawal agreement which will be passed by Parliament.'
Michael Fabricant, one of 40 Eurosceptic Tories to switch sides and back Mrs May, said: 'If Brexiteers think that a victory has been won, because Remainers and Labour voted down the deal, think again.
'On Monday, the Remainer Parliament will try to keep us in the customs union which means our obeying EU legislation and having no say in making it.'
Mrs May said the result 'would mean at least a delay and perhaps destroy Brexit'.
On Monday, Sir Oliver will lead a fresh series of 'indicative votes' on Brexit alternatives. If he can build a consensus around a soft Brexit option, such as membership of the single market and customs union, Parliament could order Mrs May to pursue it. Remainer ministers, including Amber Rudd, Greg Clark and David Gauke, were last night urging Mrs May to embrace a customs union policy.
One Cabinet minister told the Mail they believed the UK would end up in a customs union. 'I just can't see what the alternatives are,' said the source.
'The customs union vote is close and there are a lot of people in Cabinet pushing for it.'
Treasury Chief Secretary Liz Truss has told MPs Mrs May should 'play hard ball' and push for No Deal – by refusing to lay the regulations for the European elections.
Mr Raab called on ministers to step up preparations for No Deal.
Government sources last night insisted Mrs May's plan was not dead, pointing out that it was defeated by 'only' 58 votes – down from 149 earlier this month and 230 in January.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has been deployed to try to build bridges with the DUP, whose ten MPs are seen as critical to any chance of the withdrawal agreement passing.
But Mr Dodds insisted: 'I would stay in the European Union and remain, rather than risk Northern Ireland's position. That's how strongly I feel about the union.'
Dominic Raab courts Eurosceptics by backing no deal ahead of fight with Michael Gove and Boris Johnson to be the next Tory leader
Dominic Raab attempted to court Eurosceptic Tories last night after endorsing a No Deal Brexit.
The former Brexit secretary, who is seen as a leading candidate to succeed Theresa May, changed his long-standing position to vote in favour of the withdrawal deal.
Speaking in the Commons, he said he wanted to avoid a long extension to Article 50 delaying Brexit and also to avoid the prospect of the UK taking part in European Parliament elections starting on May 23.
But shortly after the vote he made another pitch to hardliners, posting a clip of his speech, with a statement saying: 'We need to expedite our preparations for a WTO departure.' This is a reference to trading on World Trade Organisation terms, without an EU trade deal.
By switching, he was in the same voting lobby as Boris Johnson, who also abandoned his opposition to the deal this week.
Dominic Raab attempted to court Eurosceptic Tories last night after endorsing a No Deal Brexit
By switching and backing May's deal, he was in the same voting lobby as Boris Johnson, who also abandoned his opposition to the deal this week
Explaining his decision yesterday, Mr Johnson wrote on Twitter that he remained 'intensely critical of the deal'.
But he said: 'We have a choice to make now, and that means choosing between options that actually exist.
'I have come to the sad conclusion that neither this Government nor this Parliament is willing to leave with no deal. We therefore run the risk of being forced to accept an even worse version of Brexit or losing Brexit altogether.
'A bad deal that we have a chance to improve in the next stage of negotiations must be better than those alternatives.
'It is very painful to vote for this deal. But I hope we can now work together to remedy its defects, avoid the backstop trap and strive to deliver the Brexit people voted for.'
Mr Raab told the Commons he wanted to avoid a long delay to Brexit because of the 'very dangerous and corrosive effect on public trust in our democracy'.
His intervention came as leadership candidates faced a furious backlash from Tory MPs for 'posturing' for the leadership before Brexit had been secured.
Mrs May said on Wednesday she would quit as Tory leader if her Brexit deal went through. But with no sign of a Commons majority, MPs said the leadership contenders should focus on getting Brexit through instead of their own ambitions.
One Cabinet minister raged: 'Everyone is building leadership campaigns and just looking at the prize. But no one is doing anything to get the deal done.
'There's going to be nothing left! They're going to be fighting to be leader of the opposition.'
In the Commons, former Home Office minister Sir Mike Penning said: 'Those running leadership campaigns to replace her should, for God's sake, put it on the back burner until we get this through.'
One member of the Government said the attempts by leadership candidates to court media attention this week were 'unseemly and grubby'.
The MP, who said they had been courted by all the likely contenders, said: 'I told them you've got to sort Brexit first.
'There's no point having a vision if you haven't got Brexit through.'
Allies of Jeremy Hunt furiously denied reports he had already secured the support of 75 MPs, and had another 25 'possibles'. The report, one friend said, was an attempt to portray him as the favourite.
So who are the candidates looking to replace May and what chance have they got?
Michael Gove - 5/2
Unlike Boris and Raab, Gove has kept on board with May's deal and will therefore have greater appeal among his remainer colleagues. He was also seen as a 'high priest of Brexiteers', meaning he could appeal to Tories on both sides of the divide.
The drawback of this position is that hardline leavers and remainers may see him as part of opposing side. His other potential drawback is his perceived disloyalty after he knifed Boris Johnson in last leadership contest.
Mr Gove, 51, the adopted son of a Scottish fish merchant, is a cabinet heavyweight who's served as Education Secretary and Justice Secretary.
His debating skills, intellect and wit put him well above many candidates and is popular with Tory members.
Boris Johnson - 4/1
The 54-year-old former Foreign Secretary is undoubtedly the best-known candidate outside of the Westminster bubble.
His scruffy style, regular TV appearances, chaotic private life and show-off Classics references make him well known to the electorate.
He has experience of power and winning elections, having been twice voted London mayor but was seen as a bumbling foreign secretary.
He is unpopular among many MPs, who may form a 'Stop Boris' campaign to prevent him getting to Number 10.
However, party grassroots members love him and he's top of the ConservativeHome league table.
It has been claimed Home Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured in Downing Street) has floated the idea of a 'dream ticket' with him as Prime Minister and Mr Gove as Chancellor
Former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab fell in line behind the deal today, denting his popularity among hardline Brexiteers
Sajid Javid - 9/1
The Home Secretary, 49, is a remainer who changed to a Brexiteer after the referendum.
He is the son of a bus driver who came to Britain from Pakistan with £1 in his pocket. Javid proved himself in business, becoming head of credit trading at Deutsche Bank.
He has experience of being Culture and Business secretary, a role in which he cracked down on union rights.
His strengths are seen as his extraordinary rags-to-riches back story, but is widely seen as a wooden and poor public speaker.
There were rumours earlier this week that he could form part of the 'Stop Boris' ticket, with Michael Gove potentially in support.
Dominic Raab - 8/1
The 46-year-old former Brexit Secretary and diehard Brexiteer is the son of a Czech-born Jewish refugee who fled the Nazis in 1938 and died of cancer when Raab was 12.
He is relatively inexperienced, lasting only four months as Brexit Secretary. He voted against May in leadership confidence vote. Mr Raab is seen as a skilled debater who honed his skills as an adversarial lawyer with blue chip legal firm Linklaters.
His weekness is that he seen lacking people skills and thus is unlikely to beat a more experienced candidate.
Unlike Boris and Raab, Gove (pictured today) has kept on board with May's deal and will therefore have greater appeal among his remainer colleagues. He was also seen as a 'high priest of Brexiteers', meaning he could appeal to Tories on both sides of the divide
Others in the running include Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey
Jeremy Hunt - 6/1
The Foreign Secretary, 52, is an ex-Remainer who may arouse suspicion among the party's Brexiteer members.
He is the eldest son of Admiral Sir Nicholas Hunt and is married to a Chinese wife and he speaks Mandarin.
He has business experience and, before politics, he set up an educational publisher which was sold for £30million in 2017.
Mr Hunt has widespread cabinet experience and was the longest-serving health secretary in history.
Despite being one of the most experienced ministers in the field, unusually, he has made few political enemies and is therefore seen as someone who could unite the party after devisive battles over Brexit.
Andrea Leadsom - 20/1
The Leader of the Commons gained quite following when she stood for leader in 2016, but her bid fell apart when she made an ill-considered comment comparing her experience as a mother to the childless Mrs May.
Mrs Leadsom is a 55-year-old mother of three and a former city trader.
Since then however, she has blossomed as Leader of the Commons, winning plaudits for taking on Speaker John Bercow.
Popular among members and colleagues, she is now widely expected to have another tilt as leading the party.
Esther McVey - 50/1
The 51-year-old former Welfare Secretary is also an ardent Brexiteer.
She spent the first two years of her life in foster care and was a breakfast TV presenter before becoming a Tory MP on Merseyside.
Won plaudits with members for resigning from Cabinet over Brexit deal and is seen as tough, having braved out vicious targeting by Labour during her time as welfare minister.
Some in the party say she doesn't have the intellectual fire power for top job and she is ranked 14th in ConservativeHome league table.
Andrea Leadsom is also expected to throw her name into the hat after her bid in 2016
photo link
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News Photo Chris Grayling: 'The last thing this country needs right now is a General Election'
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