David Cameron blasts anti-EU Tory MPs who 'keep voting against Brexit'
2 min read
David Cameron has blasted hardline Tory eurosceptics as he urged MPs to delay Brexit and rule out a no-deal departure from the EU.
The former Prime Minister, who called the EU referendum in a bid to end the long-running Conservative civil war over Europe, hit out at MPs “who always wanted Brexit [but] have voted against it again”.
His comments came after Theresa May was again defeated on her Brexit plans in the Commons - this time by 149 votes - despite secuting some changes to the controversial Northern Irish backstop plan.
MPs will vote on Wednesday night on whether a no-deal Brexit should be ruled out and are expected to vote on Thursday on whether the two-year Article 50 process should be extended.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Cameron - who stepped down after he failed to convince Brits to stay in the bloc at the 2016 referendum - said: "This is exasperating for the Prime Minister. She should feel free to look at other alternatives for partnership deals and the like in order to solve this problem.
“Because you can't go on with a situation where people who want Brexit keep voting against it.”
He added: “What needs to happen next is to rule out no-deal, that would be a disaster for our country, and to seek an extension. I'm sure that's what's going to happen next.”
Some 75 Tory MPs voted against the deal last night - most of them from the European Research Group caucus of Brexiteers.
They blocked the plans after Attorney General Geoffrey Cox said the new-look agreement could still keep the UK trapped under EU rules against its will.
The result was a major blow for the Prime Minister, despite 39 Tories who voted against the deal in January backing her this time.
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