This would see the struggling party, which now has just five MPs, perform a massive U-turn after suggesting in April it would in fact back Theresa May in a confidence vote because its own members did not believe a general election would solve the Brexit crisis. But Tory leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson has vowed to take the UK out of the European Union by October 31 – with or without a deal. This has seen Change UK, now led by Anna Soubry, dramatically change tact, despite it being highly likely they will lose their seats if a general election is triggered.
If faced with the prospect of crashing out of the EU with no deal, MPs from all parties must put our country first and support a vote of no confidence in the Government
A Change UK spokesperson said: “If faced with the prospect of crashing out of the EU with no deal, MPs from all parties must put our country first and support a vote of no confidence in the Government.
“No deal would be a disaster for the UK’s economy, for people’s livelihoods and for our reputation on the international stage.”
Labour has so far resisted triggering an immediate vote of no confidence in the Government until the week commencing July 22, when the new Prime Minister takes over from Mrs May.
Change UK’s huge shift could increase the probability of ore MPs being able to block a no deal Brexit through a vote of no confidence, but this would depend on how many Labour Brexiteers vote with the Government or abstain.
READ MORE: Who gets to choose Britain’s next Prime Minister? Do YOU get a vote?
Brexit news: Change UK has vowed to block a no deal in a move that could bring down the Government (Image: GETTY)
Fifteen independent MPs, including the six who quit the party and joined Change UK earlier this year, could also play a crucial part in this.
This is the latest blow to hit the Government in a matter of hours after Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood warned 12 Conservative MPs would be prepared to take down the Government to avoid a no deal Brexit.
On the possibility of some Tory MPs supporting the “nuclear option” of denying the Government Commons support if it pushed for no deal, Mr Ellwood told the BBC: “I believe that absolutely is the case.
“I think a dozen or so members of parliament would be on our side, would be voting against supporting a no deal and that would include ministers as well as backbenchers.”
Brexit news: The hopes and concerns for Remainers and Brexiteers (Image: EXPRESS)
Speaking on the BBC’s World at One, Conservative MP for Rushcliffe, and Father of the House said: “If it’s heading for a no deal simply because the Government can’t go round doing anything then, yes, I think I would.
“I am a life-long Conservative, that means I am pro-business, I am in favour of free markets, I am in favour of free trade and I think all of those should be combined with a strong social conscience because I am a one nation Conservative.”
He added: “It might trigger an election, it might trigger a change of Government without an election under the law we now have.”
Brexit news: Jeremy Hunt warned a Government led by Boris Johnson could quickly collapse (Image: EPA)
Earlier Jeremy Hunt, who strongly opposes a no deal Brexit, warned a Government led by Mr Johnson would quickly collapse when faced with key decisions on Brexit before the October 31 deadline set by the European Union.
He told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “He is going to come to power on a very fragile coalition of people like Matt Hancock who wants no deal taken off the table, Mark Francois who wants no deal.
“Sometimes in politics, you can fudge and get away with it but in the case of Brexit you are going to have to make decisions immediately, and that very fragile coalition will collapse immediately when you have to make those decisions.
“If that happens we won’t have another leadership contest, we will have Jeremy Corbyn in No 10 and there won’t be any Brexit at all.”
Brexit news: Boris Johnson has reaffirmed his commitment for the UK to leave the EU by October 31 (Image: EPA)
Leadership frontrunner Mr Johnson used his weekly column in the Daily Telegraph to reaffirm his commitment to deliver Brexit by the end of October.
He wrote: “We must leave the EU on October 31 come what may. It will honour the referendum result, it will focus the minds of EU negotiators.
“We are just over four months away from the date on which, by law, we must leave the EU, and this time we are not going to bottle it. We are not going to fail.
“This time we are not going to shrink in fear from the exit, as we have on the last two occasions.”
