Theresa May holds out olive branch to MPs after Brexit blame comments spark anger
3 min read
Theresa May last night held out an olive branch to MPs after her accusation that they were to blame for the Brexit delay sparked anger.
The Prime Minister said she respected the different views of parliamentarians across the Brexit divide and added: “They have difficult jobs to do.”
She made the comments in a desperate bid to shore up support for her Brexit deal after members were put out by the battle-cry statement she made from Downing Street on Wednesday night.
In a live televised address, the Prime Minister had accused Parliament of doing "everything possible to avoid making a choice" on the UK's departure from the EU.
She told Brits: "You want this stage of the Brexit process to be over and done with. I agree. I am on your side."
But the comments sparked a backlash from across the House, with MPs warning she had put them at greater risk of attack from pro-Brexit protesters.
Tory former minister Dominic Grieve said his party leader had used “extremely aggressive” language while Labour MP Diana Johnson said Mrs May had “pitched” MPs against the public.
Mrs May is also said to have angered her chief whip Julian Smith, who toured the Commons tea rooms telling colleagues the address to the nation was “appalling”.
Numerous MPs argued that attacking the people she hopes to woo for support was not an effective political strategy.
But speaking in Brussels last night, after the EU offered the UK a Brexit extension, the Prime Minister sought to backtrack and make amends by heaping praise on her colleagues in parliament.
“I know MPs on all sides of the debate have passionate views, and I respect those different positions,” she said.
“Last night I expressed my frustration. I know that MPs are frustrated too. They have difficult jobs to do. I hope we can all agree, we are now at the moment of decision.”
She added: “I am very grateful to those MPs who have supported the deal, to those who have come around to support the deal, and to all those MPs I have been meeting across the House.”
MP 'ALMOST ASSAULTED'
Labour MP LLoyd Russell-Moyle said a pro-Brexit member of the public had bent his glasses and tried to assault him in the wake of the Downing Street statement by the PM.
He appeared to lay the blame directly with No 10, arguing Mrs May had "whipped up fear and division with her speech last night".
Commons Speaker John Bercow told members they were not "traitors" and added: "All of you are doing your best."
It came after PoliticsHome revealed that MPs were being advised by Commons authorities to share taxis home over fears they could be attacked.
But a Downing Street spokesperson denied the address by the PM had put MPs at risk, adding: “I reject the suggestion there’s any connection or any link to that.
"The PM was setting out to the public the details of the extension and her own personal regrets on that front."
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