LOCAL MP Theresa May has promised that she will stand down as Prime Minister.
She told a meeting of the 1922 committee earlier today that if her Brexit deal was passed by the House of Commons, she would resign and allow someone else to lead the country during the next phase of Brexit.
BBC News said that Tory MP James Cartlidge said: “My recollection is that she said she would not remain in post for the next phase of the negotiations, the implication being that once the withdrawal agreement has passed, she would make way for someone else.”
Sky News reported that Mrs May told MPs: “I am prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended in order to secure a smooth and orderly Brexit”.
There is no specific departure date announced, however there has been speculation all week that she is being forced out of the job.
Downing Street released a statement from Mrs May.
“This has been a testing time for our country and our party,” she said.
“We’re nearly there. We’re almost ready to start a new chapter and build that brighter future. “But before we can do that, we have to finish the job in hand.
“I have heard very clearly the mood of the parliamentary party. I know there is a desire for a new approach – and new leadership – in the second phase of the Brexit negotiations – and I won’t stand in the way of that.”
“I know some people are worried that if you vote for the Withdrawal Agreement, I will take that as a mandate to rush on into phase two without the debate we need to have. I won’t – I hear what you are saying.
“But we need to get the deal through and deliver Brexit.”
As the row over Brexit rumbles on, there is still doubt as to whether Mrs May’s deal could come back to the House of Commons to be voted on.
Earlier today the speaker John Bercow warned the Government not to ‘circumvent my ruling’ that the deal could not be brought back to the House unless there had been substantial changes to it.
Today, MPs are voting on a series of ideas in a bid to break the Brexit deadlock. But some Conservatives have indicated they would now back Mrs May’s deal, with Jacob Rees-Mogg, who is against a second referendum, changing his mind, saying “half-a-loaf is better than no bread”.
Local politicians gave their reaction to the news.
Cllr Clive Jones, who stood as the Liberal Democrats’ Wokingham candidate in the 2017 general election, said: “Graham Brady [chair of the 1922 committee] went to see her yesterday. He probably said she should go.
“Her timing is pretty poor. And who is going to take over? Is there going to be someone from the ERG [European Reform Group]?
“Back in the 1980s, the Conservatives spent hours and hours saying that Labour was split between old-fashioned Labour and Militant. It’s the same position now. Is it the ERG or one nation Conservatism speaking?”
He added: “Who will emerge as leader? Could it be Boris Johnson? I really don’t think so. He’s considered by many across the world to be a laughing stock.
“The man is a buffoon.”
He added that although he didn’t think there would be a General Election, the party was ready for it.
“I’ve been interested in politics for 45 years and I cannot remember anything like this,” he said.
And Labour group leader Cllr Andy Croy was sceptical about the promise of Mrs May to stand down.
He said: “If Theresa May says she will resign – well, no one believes her any more. No one will believe her until she leaves 10 Downing Street.
“She has been the biggest disaster in British history. She’s been terrible, absolutely terrible. Hopelessly over promoted, she struggled as home secretary.”
