Yahoo News Tory rebels set up WhatsApp plot to thwart Theresa May's Brexit plan
Eurosceptics have set up a “party within a party” with a highly organised whipping operation among Tory Eurosceptic MPs to try to frustrate Theresa May’s Brexit plans.
The news threatens to blow wide open the frustrations within the Conservative Party about Theresa May’s Chequers plan for trading with the European Union after Brexit.
The news has emerged on the day that Brandon Lewis, the party Chairman, and Gavin Barwell, the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, hosted a conference call with senior members of the voluntary party to gauge the mood among the grassroots about the Brexit proposals.
More than 100 Eurosceptic Tory MPs are now on a WhatsApp group co-ordinated by former Brexit minister Steve Baker who is giving them voting instructions.
The combination of grassroots anger and an organised Eurosceptic backbench party run by Mr Baker - who ran the Conservatives for Britain group which helped to force David Cameron to commit to an EU referendum when he was Tory leader - will be Mrs May's worst nightmare.
One senior Eurosceptic source said the group would now start to give instructions to Tory MPs about how to vote, circumventing party whips.
One Eurosceptic source said: “If she wants to start a civil war in the Conservative party, this is what is going to happen.”
The source said the instructions on voting would go to MPs “on Chequers and anything else that needs to be frustrated”.
The source said: “She is not going to have to get Chequers through on the basis of working with Labour MPs – she will have to get everything through on the basis of coalition with Labour MPs.
"Whatever that will be, it will not be a Tory government any more."
The Telegraph has seen the copies of WhatsApp group message being sent tonight by Mr Baker to other Eurosceptic Tory MPs urging them to vote for four ERG amendments to the Taxation (Cross Border) Trade Bill on Monday.
Mr Baker writes: “In the event it proves necessary to vote for these amendments in a division, we need to be sure colleagues are kept well informed. In today’s circumstances, we can afford no accidents.
“Government collective agreement is cumbersome. We can and will act with unprecedented speed. You will receive by broadcast from an ERG officer two messages: a warning in advance plus a division message.
“Each will be confirmed by a second ERG officer." The message concludes: “Please vote with your decision.”
The messages:
