Tories could suffer 1997-style defeat if Theresa May's Brexit deal is passed, ex-minister warns
3 min read
The Conservative party could suffer an electoral defeat on the scale of its historic 1997 loss if it delivers the Brexit deal secured by Theresa May, a former minister will warn.
Jo Johnson, who quit the Government in protest at the agreement the Prime Minister struck with Brussels, will say the “Tory Brexit” label could become an “albatross around our necks for years to come”.
He branded the deal a “half-baked worst of all worlds” and said the Tories could harm their reputation for “economic competence” after the Government admitted the UK will be worse off under every possible Brexit scenario.
A Treasury analysis yesterday revealed that the economy could take a 3.9% hit over 15 years under the Brexit deal Mrs May secured. Meanwhile, the Bank of England also modelled a range of damaging scenarios.
Mr Johnson, the brother of Brexiteer Boris Johnson, will warn the Tories could see a replay of Tony Blair's first election landslide when the party lost a whopping 178 seats.
He will say: “Brexit is seen as a project driven by the Conservative party and this half-baked worst of all words Brexit could trigger an electoral defeat on the scale of 1997 or worse, this ‘Tory Brexit’ label will be an albatross around our necks for years to come.”
He will issue his stark warning and call for a second EU referendum alongside Tories Justine Greening and Lord Willets at an event in London organised by the People’s Vote campaign.
Tory MPs from across the Brexit divide have expressed anger at plans in the deal to keep the UK in a customs union with the bloc in the event of a no-deal Brexit to protect the Irish border.
Almost 100 have said they will vote against the agreement when it comes before the Commons on 11 December – a vote the Prime Minister is expected to be sorely defeated on.
SUPPORT FROM LEADSOM
But she won support last night from pro-Brexit Cabinet minister Andrea Leadsom, who was previously mulling whether or not she could back the deal.
In a letter to constituents she said she was worried that the UK could end up “trapped” in the so-called Northern Irish ‘backstop’, but that overall the blueprint “delivered” on the referendum result.
She said: “We have to make sure that nothing happens that can stop Brexit. This has been a challenging journey for many of us, and compromises had to be made on both sides.
“However, two things are certain – first, that this is the only deal on the table, and second, that it means we will leave on 29th March 2019.
“I believe the political declaration offers the route to a good future relationship, and therefore my conclusion is that I must support the deal, and our Prime Minister.”
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