Tory MP Richard Drax apologises for backing Theresa May’s deal in third vote: ‘I made the wrong call’

A Tory MP who supported Theresa May‘s Brexit deal in her third failed meaningful vote has publicly apologised, saying he made the “wrong call”.

Parliamentarian Richard Drax took the unprecedented step of raising a point of order in the Commons on Monday to speak of his shame of voting for the plans. 

He also called for the Prime Minister’s resignation as he said her Withdrawal Agreement should “never ever see the light of day again”. 

MPs rejected the Withdrawal Agreement by 344 votes to 286, majority 58, last week with Mr Drax among the Brexiteers who switched to support it having previously opposed the PM’s deal as a whole.

Mr Drax told the Commons: “I do not feel that I have misled the House but I do feel that I have not been true to myself. 

“Although doing what I thought to be in the country’s best interests at that time I quickly realised that I should not have voted with the Government on Friday. 

“What I should have done, Mr Speaker, and did not, was to trust my instincts and those of the British people. 

“I made the wrong call on Friday.”

He said he felt he has “let down” some of his fellow politicians and spoke of the risks he feels the deal in its form could cause in Ireland. 

He apologised to his “friends and colleagues in the DUP”, and said the Government’s deal could have risked the “integrity” of the country.

The 61-year-old former soldier spoke of his tours in Northern Ireland during times of conflict and said that there must be no issues which could disrupt the border there. 

Mr Drax, MP for South Dorset, also called for the Prime Minister to “resign immediately” if she cannot commit to taking Britain out of the EU on April 12. 

He previously said he felt “utterly ashamed” for “betraying” his beliefs and backing the deal in Friday’s vote, which Theresa May lost with 344 against and 286 for. 

Mr Drax, who is a member of the pro-Brexit European Research Group of Conservatives, added it was time for a “fresh start” as he called for Brexit to be fulfilled this month. 

His comments came ahead of MPs taking part in a second round of indicative votes on Monday evening in a bid to end the Commons deadlock over Brexit.