Theresa May is refusing to Quit and told Brexiteers at Chequers that if they don't get behind her plan, MPs would force through a 'soft' Brexit
Theresa May is today facing her fractured Cabinet days after they tried to oust her in a failed coup - and is set to unveil a plan to hold so-called 'indicative votes' on Brexit to let MPs choose their favoured alternative to her own EU divorce plan.
The PM is expected to announce she will hold the votes in an attempt to quash rebel MPs’ plan to seize control of the Brexit process and force a softer Brexit upon her.
But she could also use the prospect of a softer Brexit to compel Brexiteer MPs to back her deal before Friday and secure Britain’s exit from the EU on 22 May.
Under the terms of the Brexit delay offered by Brussels on Thursday, Britain will leave the EU on May 22 if the PM wins a vote on her deal and April 12 if she does not.
The April 12 deadline raises the prospect of a no deal Brexit or another lengthy delay to Brexit that would see the UK participate in EU elections.
At the weekend Brexiteers confronted the PM in an attempt to get her to agree a departure date in return for their backing of her deal, and Boris Johnson wrote today that PM had ‘bottled’ Brexit by not leaving without a deal on Friday.
Cabinet ministers also tried to oust her and replace her with a ‘caretaker PM’ – but the plot fell apart when their apparent candidates David Liddington and Michael Gove both said they did not want the job.
Mrs May is expected to offer them a series of votes on the seven Brexit options MPs have to choose from: The PM's deal, No Deal, a second referendum, Labour's preferred customs union deal, a Norway-plus EEA deal, a Canada-plus free trade deal or revoking Article 50 and staying in the EU.
Brexiteers accused her of 'declaring war' because the series of votes would give control to Parliament, where the majority of MPs are remainers who want the softest possible Brexit or no Brexit at all.
Today International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said claims that the Brexit deal would be agreed by MPs if Theresa May pledged to quit is a 'supposition'.
He said: 'It's simply not enough to say that if we throw the Prime Minister overboard things will be alright because it really won't change anything'.
Dr Fox said the threat of fighting European elections after failing to deliver Brexit could convince them to back Mrs May's deal, because MPs act out of 'self-interest'.
He said: 'There is a hard deadline coming up, which is the 11th of April. If we have not decided by then to leave with a deal then we will have to pass the legislation for Britain to fight in the European elections in May. I'm not sure there are many people in the House of Commons who fancy that particular meeting with voters. I think it would unleash a torrent of pent up frustration from voters and the major parties will do what they can to avoid fighting those elections. There's nothing in politics like a bit of self-interest to concentrate the minds'.
Michael Gove leaves home this morning as he denied he would want to take over from Mrs May - but Boris Johnson appears to be shaping up to launch a leadership bid after he said that the government has 'bottled it completely' over Brexit
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox arriving for a crunch cabinet meeting today after saying that getting rid of the PM would not guarantee that her deal would go through
Mrs May's cabinet is split because of a rift between Brexiteers including Andrea Leadsom and Remainers such as Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd, pictured arriving for today's cabinet meeting
These are the seven options for Brexit MPs could vote on this week if Mrs May is forced towards a softer Brexit
Dr Fox insisted that Mrs May was respected by the public, despite calls for her to go from her own party.
'What I was finding from real voters was people spontaneously saying 'I don't understand how Theresa May puts up with the pressure, she is a great public servant, her resilience is amazing',' Dr Fox told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
The seven Brexit options MPs may get to choose from:
:: Theresa May's Brexit deal - The Withdrawal Agreement negotiated with Brussels that has already been rejected by MPs twice.
:: Revoke Article 50 - The cancellation of the UK's notice to Brussels that it would leave the EU, which was given almost two years ago.
:: Second referendum - Another national poll of voters to check whether they still want to leave the EU.
:: The PM's deal plus customs union - Labour's Brexit plan, which would prevent Britain being able to strike its own trade deals.
:: The PM's deal plus customs union plus single market - An even 'softer' Brexit plan, also known as 'Common Market 2.0' or 'Norway Plus', that would include keeping freedom of movement of people.
:: Free Trade Agreement - A trade deal between Great Britain and the EU, but excluding Northern Ireland, which would create a customs border in the Irish Sea.
:: No Deal - The country would leave the EU without striking an agreement with Brussels.
'There seems to me to be a bigger disconnect now between Westminster and what is happening out in the country than ever before.'
He said Tory Eurosceptics had to accept that MPs would block a no-deal Brexit.
'For a lot of my colleagues, I think they still believe there is a route to no deal. I have come to the conclusion some time ago that was unlikely given the House of Commons that we have.
'I think we will see today that there is a mood in the House of Commons to stop us leaving without a deal, even if that means no Brexit. I think that is a constitutionally disastrous position.'
Tory backbencher Nigel Evans, a joint executive secretary of the influential Conservative 1922 Committee, said Theresa May should set out her plans to quit in order to get her Brexit deal through.
'Clearly a number of people do not want the Prime Minister anywhere near the next phase of negotiations, which is the future trading relationship between ourselves and the EU,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today.
He said there should be an 'orderly' process to replace the Prime Minister, with a full leadership contest rather than an interim successor.
Theresa May's former Downing Street director of communications, Katie Perrior, said it was time for the Prime Minister to announce her departure date to get her Brexit deal through.
Writing in The Times Red Box, Ms Perrior said: "Maybe it's time to stop finding scapegoats and admit that Theresa May and her lack of leadership has made a bad situation worse.
"With great sadness, it's time for her to swap her departure date in return for the deal. It's the least she can do."
Brexiteer Andrew Bridgen told Sky News that Theresa May 'certainly doesn't have the confidence of the Cabinet, and of Conservative members across the country'.
He added: 'We are not going to get Brexit through this Parliament. This Parliament is packed out with MPs who really back Remain.
'The only way we are going to get Brexit is a change of leader to someone who actually believes in Brexit and can express that to the country'.
At the start of another crunch week in Westminster, the Commons is due to vote on an amendment which would force a series of indicative votes on alternatives to the Prime Minister's Withdrawal Agreement.
Letwin
This cross-party plan, backed by Sir Oliver Letwin, Dominic Grieve and Hilary Benn, seeks to pave the way for a series of 'indicative votes' in the Commons on Wednesday, effectively taking control of the Brexit process out of the hands of the Government.
Cooper
Labour MP Yvette Cooper's amendment rejects a no-deal Brexit and demands the Government sets out by the end of Thursday how it will ensure the UK does not crash out of the EU on April 12 without a Withdrawal Agreement, if the PM's plan is rejected again. Tory MPs Sir Oliver Letwin and Dame Caroline Spelman are among the signatories.
Labour
Jeremy Corbyn's party has tabled an amendment instructing the Government to provide parliamentary time this week so MPs can find a majority for an alternative to the PM's Brexit plan. They say the other options could include Labour's plan, a customs union, second referendum or a Common Market 2.0.
TIGs
The Independent Group are joined by Liberal Democrats and some Labour MPs in calling for the Prime Minister to immediately make the 'necessary preparations' for a second referendum.
Beckett
Labour MP Dame Margaret Beckett's amendment seeks to make the Government move a motion on whether the Commons approves the UK leaving without a deal and on whether there should be an extension to Article 50 if Britain comes within seven days of crashing out.
Quince
Backed by prominent Brexiteers from across the House, Tory Will Quince's amendment simply seeks to reaffirm Parliament's 'commitment to honour the result of the referendum that the UK should leave the European Union'.
Liberal Democrats
With support from members of the Independent Group, the Lib Dem amendment calls for a two-year extension to Article 50 to hold a second referendum on whether to leave the EU under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement or to stay a member.
Home Secretary Sajid Javid arrives at No 10 Downing Street followed by Minister of State for Immigration, Caroline Nokes
Brexiteeer Secretary of State for International Development Penny Mordaunt arrives at Downing Street
Britain's Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss and Britain's Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling strolled into No 10 together
Education Secretary Damian Hinds and was followed into Downing Street by Business Secretary Greg Clark, one of the remainer ministers in the cabinet
Secretary of State for Housing James Brokenshire and Conservative Party Chairman Brandon Lewis were driven to today's cabinet meeting
WEDNESDAY: MPs HOLD INDICATIVE VOTES
The Commons is set to hold a series of indicative votes on Brexit alternatives this week, most likely on Wednesday. The alternatives include a softer Brexit, a second referendum or leaving with No Deal. If one commands a majority, MPs will try to pressure Theresa May into adopting that option. But there is no binding way of making her do so.
THURSDAY: MAY HOLDS A THIRD MEANINGFUL VOTE ON HER BREXIT DEAL
May is likely to try and pass her Brexit deal a third time, after the EU offered a Brexit date of 22 May if she does so this week. The Prime Minister will use threats that MPs will take control and force a softer Brexit in an attempt to force Brexiteer rebels to finally back her. She may also offer them a date when she will quit in return for their support. Thursday is the most likely day for her vote, but there is a chance she won't hold it if she does not believe she'll win.
FRIDAY: MPs TAKE CONTROL?
If the PM loses a third vote on her deal, MPs and Remainer Cabinet ministers will try and force her towards a softer Brexit. Brexiteer MPs and Cabinet minister will conversely try and push her towards a No Deal exit from the EU. The most likely outcomes are:
NO DEAL
Theresa May is under no obligation to accept MPs favoured option for Brexit, and could take Britain out the EU without a deal on 12 April. She could remain as Prime Minister under this option.
SOFTER BREXIT
MPs could try and force May to negotiate a softer Brexit, but this will provoke outrage from Brexiteers. It does not necessarily mean a delay beyond a few months because Britain could still leave the EU under the withdrawal arrangement.
SECOND REFERENDUM
IF MPs vote for a second referendum either on May's deal or a range of options, it is likely to mean a lengthy delay to Brexit. May has indicated she will step down if Brexit is delayed beyond June 30.
Defeat for the Government on Monday night on the plan - tabled by former ministers Sir Oliver Letwin and Dominic Grieve and Labour MP Hilary Benn - would be a further humiliation for Mrs May.
The proposal seeks to pave the way for a series of indicative votes in the Commons on Wednesday, effectively taking control of the Brexit process out of the hands of the Government.
Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay warned the risk of a general election would increase if MPs took control of parliamentary proceedings and brought about a 'constitutional collision'.
But Chancellor Philip Hammond said 'one way or another' MPs would be given the opportunity this week to decide what it is in favour of, though could not confirm whether Tories would be given a free vote on the options.
Mrs May's government has 'bottled it completely' over Brexit according to Boris Johnson as she clings to power after holding crisis talks with her Brexit critics at Chequers yesterday.
During a three-hour
