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If just two Tory MPs switch their alliance to the anti-Brexit Party, this would prevent the next Prime Minister, who will be named on Tuesday, getting a parliamentary majority. Ed Davey, who was Lib Dem energy minister in the coalition cabinet with the Conservatives, has reportedly been approached by remainer Tories, according to The Sunday Times. They will now hold talks this week in a bid to derail the next Tory leader, either through a vote of no confidence or Tory leaders defecting to another party.
A source close to Mr Davey, said: “Boris Johnson’s threat to close down parliament to force through a no-deal Brexit was the final straw for a number of Conservative MPs.
“With the sitting chancellor Philip Hammond talking openly about voting to bring down his own government if it pursues a hard Brexit, the growing sense is of numerous Conservative MPs now willing to put country before party.
“It is uncertain yet exactly where this new level of cross-party co-operation will go but it is clear several Conservative MPs are seriously considering their positions.”
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10.16am update: Tory Minister shamed after no deal Brexit warning – ‘Totally deluded’
Boris Johnson, the former foreign secretary, who is tipped to become the next Tory leader and Prime Minister next week, has said he is willing to pull the UK out of the EU without a deal by the end of October this year.
But, Conservative Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood delivered a stark warning about the prospect of a no deal Brexit.
During an interview with Sophy Ridge on Sky News, the Tory Minister claimed the UK would be forced to go “crawling” back to the bloc just “moments” after leaving with no deal, sparking fury with some listeners.
He said: “I really get frustrated with this energy towards no deal. I know, all my parliamentary colleagues on all sides of the House recognise the dangers of no deal.
“The fact that we keep talking about it, it isn’t a solution. I am very concerned. I am going to make it very very clear, I want us to move away from discussion about no deal at all.
“I believe a deal is absolutely possible. The fact we keep talking about no deal fuels the small caucus of people who see that as their destination. No deal is not a destination. You run away from the EU and say ‘fine we don’t want to have a deal’.
“You will still have to crawl back literally moments later to say ‘how is our financial services going to operate?. How is our operations with peace going to work? How is citizens rights going to work?’
“How are they going to respond if we have just run the other way to come crawling back to the table? No deal is a distraction from where I want the Prime Minister to focus – that is getting a deal, and we can achieve that.”
9.47am update: Cabinet ministers face uncertain future under Boris Johnson
David Gauke, the justice secretary, recalled he will quit the cabinet on Wednesday as he will not serve under Mr Johnson if he pursues a no-deal Brexit as Prime Minister.
However he ruled out joining the Lib Dems or voting down the government.
He told the Sunday Times: “If the test of loyalty to stay in the cabinet is a commitment to support no-deal on October 31 — which, to be fair to him, Boris has consistently said — then that’s not something I’m prepared to sign up to.
“I recognise that this spell in government is coming to an end. Given that I’ve been in the cabinet since Theresa May came to power, I think the appropriate thing is for me to resign to her.”
Former Tory leadership candidate Rory Stewart, who is also international development secretary, is among dozens of other ministers planning to resign at the same time.
Chancellor Philip Hammond, who is also against a no-deal Brexit, could quit as early as tomorrow after he was seen packing his bags yesterday.
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