Ministers Deny Conspiracy to oust May as Brexit Rebels Approach Checkers | Policy

Philip Hammond admitted that Theresa May's Brexit deal may not be pbaded by the House of Commons, while senior ministers have decided to dispel rumors that the prime minister could be forced out of doors days after a Cabinet revolt.

Before the Prime Minister's meeting with a group of high-ranking conservative rebels at his Checkers country retreat, Chancellor Sophy Ridge told Sky News on Sunday that her conservative colleagues were "very frustrated" and "desperate to find a solution".

But as two ministers, Michael Gove and David Lidington, had been chosen to succeed in acting, downplayed speculation about the Prime Minister's future. Mr. Hammond said that talking about chasing May was "frankly self-indulgent at the moment".

The Chancellor, who was part of a group that had plotted to force her to step down Monday at a cabinet meeting, refused to question whether her colleagues had approached her to ask her to # 39; intervene.

The Chancellor – who also said that a second referendum "deserved to be taken into account" – had instead made it clear that May's agreement on Brexit was in serious trouble. He said: "I am realistic about the fact that we may not be able to get a majority for the approval of the Prime Minister, if that is the case, Parliament will have to decide not only what he's opposed to, but what's the point. "

Hammond's qualified support appeared when it appeared that May was planning to meet the Brexit rebels: Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Steve Baker and Iain Duncan Smith at Checkers while she was attempting to find a way to stay hooked on his work. to treat through the communes.

David Davis, who had tried to support her, and former Loyalist Minister Damian Green also attended the meeting with May and his de facto deputy, David Lidington, as well as ministers Michael Gove and Steve Barclay.

As the meeting began Sunday night, a spokesman would simply have said that the group had held "long discussions" on "a range of issues, including whether there is sufficient support in the House of Commons. to bring back a meaningful vote this week. "

Earlier on Sunday, Lidington was forced to deny that he wanted to badume the position of acting prime minister as a result of intense speculation that a ministerial group comprising Hammond wanted him to replace May.

In an interview granted in his constituency of Buckinghamshire, he denied any involvement in a conspiracy against the prime minister, saying that there had been "a lot of wacky speculation around us this morning" and insisting that & # 39; He would support the signing of his agreement on Brexit by Parliament.

"I do not think I want to take over from the Prime Minister who, I think, does a fantastic job," he said. "I tell you this: one of the things that works closely with the Prime Minister is to heal you completely from any persistent ambition to want to accomplish this task."

Later, Environment Secretary Gove said he "absolutely" supported the prime minister and added, "This is not the time to change captain."

"I think the time has come for cold heads. But we must absolutely focus on the task at hand and make sure we get the maximum possible support for the Prime Minister and his agreement, "he told the BBC.

Hammond said the report published in the Sunday Times about a government conspiracy was not accurate. "It's not true at all. My position is that it is not about individuals, but about how we will progress. "

In addition to Hammond, Greg Clark, Business Secretary, Amber Rudd, Secretary of Labor and Retirement, and David Gauke, Secretary of Justice, have been appointed tracers. Other reports also suggest that Gove was also willing to badume the role of interim leader and that he enjoyed the support of some Brexit supporters.

Cabinet's concerns about May and her ability to retain control of the blocked Brexit process remain acute, and few people in Westminster believe she can get a revised version of her agreement in the House of Commons in the next days.

Duncan Smith stated that the idea of ​​a coup d'etat "would be unacceptable to my colleagues" and accused the cabinet members of failing in their collective responsibility by stinting. maintaining with May.

"Sure there must be a change of leadership," said Duncan Smith in an interview on BBC One's "The Andrew Marr Show," "this must be done through the appropriate process, with the decision of the members, not as a horrible five to six people. " cabal."

Duncan Smith also suggested a glimmer of hope for the deal with May: "I will recommend to my colleagues to keep their advice on this issue," he said. A final decision will have to be weighed against whether or not a Brexit table is maintained.

Barclay, secretary of Brexit, said Duncan Smith and Ken Clarke, who "reflect a wide range of views on Europe," said that a change of direction would be a major distraction.

He said that there had been "a lot of emotion" in the weekend papers and that it would be up to May to judge whether the ministers had breached the collective responsibility of the Cabinet by informing the government that she should resign.

The Chancellor said that Parliament would have the opportunity to hold indicative votes on the alternatives to the May deal this week, including the cancellation of Brexit by canceling Article 50, a exit clause without agreement under the terms of the World Trade Organization, maintaining in the customs union customs union and close to the single market.

"In one way or another, Parliament will have the opportunity this week to decide what it is for, and I hope it will seize this opportunity – if he can not avoid the Prime Minister's agreement – to say clearly and unambiguously what can happen, "he said.

Hammond said that no decision had yet been taken as to whether the Conservatives would be allowed to vote freely on the issue. He stated that he felt that only two options should be removed from the table: no agreement and no Brexit.

The Chancellor refused to rule out a second referendum. "I'm not sure that there is a majority in parliament for a second referendum, but it's a perfectly coherent proposal," he said. "Many people will strongly oppose it, but it's a coherent proposition that deserves to be discussed with the other proposals."

Labor MP Jon Trickett, shadow cabinet minister, said, "The interview with Philip Hammond has been extraordinary. The Chancellor said the deal they had been working on for nearly three years was dead and the idea of ​​no deal – which Theresa May has been keen on since the beginning. "