WATCH: Tory MP says he was wrong to vote for Theresa May's Brexit deal in bizarre Commons speech
2 min read
A pro-Brexit Conservative MP has said he was wrong to vote for Theresa May's Brexit deal in a bizarre speech in the House of Commons.
Richard Drax said he was filled with regret after voting for the “flawed” agreement with the EU on Friday, and called on the Prime Minister to resign if she cannot deliver Brexit by 12 April.
The South Dorset MP made a personal plea this afternoon, offering an apology to the DUP after he caved in to avoid "more political uncertainty".
He had previously refused to support the Brexit deal in the first two Meaningful Votes, but was among other Eurosceptics to come onside with the Government in a last-ditch bid for Brexit to go forward.
He told MPs this afternoon: “I do not feel like I misled the House but I do feel I have not been true to myself.
“Although doing what I believed to be in the country’s best interest at that moment in time, I quickly realised that I should not have voted with the Government on Friday afternoon.
“We have to weigh up the balance of risk and make an almost impossible choice, it seemed to be either the PM’s deal or a long delay, European elections, a softer Brexit and more political uncertainty.”
The European Research Group member said he had “let down” his allies and the DUP by his actions and warned that the Withdrawal Agreement “must never ever see the light of day again”.
And he added: “If the Prime Minister cannot commit to taking us out of the EU on 12 April, she must resign immediately.
“This is no longer about Leave or Remain - that was decided in 2016, this is about the future of our great country, and faith and trust in our democracy.”
MPs voted 344 to 286 to reject the Withdrawal Agreement on 29 March - on what would have been the original Brexit day.
Mr Drax was among more than 40 Tory MPs who switched their vote to support the deal compared to the previous vote on 12 March.
Earlier today, fellow Brexiteer Steve Baker said he could vote against the Government in a no-confidence motion if Mrs May backs a softer Brexit model.
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
