Tory MPs send Brexit 'ransom letter' to Theresa May

Brexit-backing Tory MPs have been accused of trying to hold the Prime Minister to “ransom” with a series of demands for a clean break from the European Union.

In a letter to Theresa May, more than 60 Conservatives set out their vision of what the PM should demand in the next round of negotiations with Brussels.

They included the UK having full control over laws and the departure from the Single Market and Customs Union in order to allow Britain to negotiate trade deals with other countries.

They also demanded that the UK should not be a “rule-taker” and that it should be free to negotiate and sign trade deals during the two-year transition period from March 2019.

The letter was sent by the Eurosceptic ‘European Research Group’ of MPs, which is led by high-profile backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg and counts former ministers Priti Patel and Iain Duncan Smith among its members.

Critics described it as a “ransom note”. Conservative MP and pro-EU campaigner Nicky Morgan said: “The ERG clearly think they have the prime minister as their hostage.”

Labour MP David Lammy added: “The ERG is a party within the Tory party, with a few dozen hard Brexit Conservative MPs basically holding the PM to ransom. She lost her mandate for her Hard Brexit on June 8th 2017 but they are threatening to bring her down if she doesn't do what they say.”

Paul Blomfield, shadow Brexit minister, said: "It is clearer than ever that Theresa May cannot deliver the Brexit deal Britain needs.

"She is too weak to face down the fanatics in her own party and to deliver a final deal that protects jobs and the economy."

Former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, a supporter of the Best For Britain against Brexit, said: “The PM must listen to the people, not to the far-right faction who are launching this shameless coup."

The letter includes a number of "suggestions" for securing a successful Brexit, including "taking control" of World Trade Organisation tariff schedules that regulate trading.

The Government should publish a mandate showing how the UK wants to approach trade with the rest of the world, the letter suggests.

"The UK must be free to start its own trade negotiations immediately," it adds.

"The UK should negotiate as an equal partner. Ministers may not want or be able to accept the EU's timing and mandates as fixed, and should be able to set out alternative terms including, for example, building an agreement based on our World Trade Organisation membership instead.

"Any 'implementation period' should be based on WTO principles. Any implementation period must not restrain the UK from negotiating or signing other trade agreements."

Mrs May is meeting Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte for talks in Downing Street and is expected to update him on Brexit progress.