‘We want a ladder to climb down’; MPs who voted down May’s deal are getting nervous

Politicians arriving for work in Parliament these days are confronted with a less than perfect view of the Palace of Westminster.

The iconic Elizabeth Tower, home of Big Ben, is sheathed in scaffolding as renovation work is carried out. Workers scurry up and down ladders, being careful not to get themselves trapped in positions from which there is no obvious escape.

Some of those working inside the building face a similar challenge and are looking for ladders of their own to climb down on Brexit.

When 118 Conservative MPs voted against Theresa May’s deal in January, the hope of many was that the EU would see the size of the defeat and agree to reopen talks.

As things stand, Brussels is holding firm on its line that the negotiations are over and there can therefore be no changes to the hated backstop plan concerning the Irish border.

That leaves those Conservatives who rebelled on 25 January with the choice of whether to vote against the plan again when it eventually comes back to Parliament, or eat a Big Ben-sized portion of humble pie – and back it.

“We just want a ladder to climb down,” said one member of the pro-Brexit European Research Group of MPs, adding: “A lot of us just need her to get anything at all so we can back it.”

Another Tory MP who voted against the deal is equally desperate for just a small change to what is on offer. He said: “My association told me not to say too much in public so it’s easier when I have to back it, but a lot of us need something just to save some face.”

A Tory MP who resigned from a position in the party in protest at the deal suggests May might not need to get changes to the withdrawal agreement itself to win over some of those who voted against her on January 15.

“There does have to be a meaningful change – whether it’s an addendum or appendix – as long as it’s legally binding,” they said.

Ladders in the form of addenda and appendices may win over some MPs, but there is a hardcore group of Tories who will settle for nothing less than wholesale change to the withdrawal agreement.

Peter Bone, co-founder of the Brexit campaign group Grassroots Out, was clear: “If the Northern Ireland backstop isn’t replaced with alternative arrangements then it won’t go through the House.”

It wasn’t just Conservatives who voted down the deal. Some 248 Labour MPs refused to endorse May’s plan, helping to inflict the worst defeat on any government in history.

With more Labour MPs opposed to a ‘no deal’ Brexit than those on the government benches opposite, perhaps they could come to May’s rescue if the EU refuses to budge on the backstop.

Gloria de Piero, who represents Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, voted Remain in the referendum but now accepts the UK has to leave the EU and there should not be another public vote.

When asked by CityAM if she would back May’s deal when it returns to Parliament if the outcome of rejecting it was ‘no deal’, she replied instantly: “No, we’re not playing that game. I want a soft Brexit. I am against May’s deal.

“Parliament has the power to put down another amendment and I hope there’s a majority for a permanent customs union.”

Another Labour MP took a different view, saying if the choice was as stark as May’s deal or no deal, they would back the Prime Minister, but they were convinced it would not get to that stage.

However, they too talked up the role parliament could play in stopping a ‘no deal’ outcome.

The ladder they are pinning their hopes on has been built by Labour MP Yvette Cooper and Conservative Oliver Letwin.

The pair want to delay the UK’s departure from the EU if a deal has not been stuck by mid-March, and while a version of the plan was defeated by the government earlier this month, it is set to be voted on again on February 27.

The plan would give May until March 13 to get a Brexit deal through parliament, and if she can’t MPs will get a vote on whether to leave the EU without a deal or ask for an extension to the Article 50 negotiating period beyond March 29.

One Labour MP described it as “essential”, adding: “Ultimately any delay has to be for a real and substantial purpose – not more rainbow-hunting over the backstop.”

The biggest ladder of all is being offered by Jeremy Corbyn, who has promised to support May if she commits to the UK entering a permanent customs union with the EU.

Agreeing to such a demand would cause unimaginable damage to her party, with many seeing the ability to strike new trade deals as one of the big wins of Brexit – and something rendered impossible by membership of a customs union.

If May reached for such a ladder she would very quickly find that it turned into a snake.