Nicky Morgan Says Theresa May ‘Spectacularly Mishandled’ Brexit Votes

On Twitter, the Commons Treasury committee chair said: “The defeat last night was entirely avoidable.

“A small change in words would have been enough.

“But there are a lot of stubborn people on all sides and trust is now at rock bottom.

“It is however symptomatic of a Downing Street and whips office that’s been determined to keep MPs and Parliament at arms length since 2016.

“To have both pro and anti Brexit MPs abstain against the PM is spectacular mishandling and this is not the first time it has happened.”

She went on: “A withdrawal agreement is needed to avoid a no-deal outcome to Brexit. An agreement needs a majority of MPs to support it and legislation to implement it.

“Will enough Labour MPs keep voting with Tory ministers to achieve that? Seems unlikely to me.

“So the numbers have to be provided by Conservative MPs, DUP and some Labour MPs.”

It came as Ireland’s foreign minister said he could not believe that May had still not navigated a way through Tory divisions despite being just weeks from Brexit on March 29. 

“I think it is extraordinary and unbelievable really that the British Parliament and British Government have let it come to this,” Simon Coveney said.

“I do, however, believe that Theresa May is sincere and does want to protect the Good Friday Agreement.

“Forty-two days out until Britain is due to leave, there is still divisions in a political party causing Ireland to spend hundreds of millions of euro to prepare for no deal.”