Brexiteers’ fury at Theresa May as she ‘prepares to SOFTEN Brexit’

THERESA May could be preparing to soften her Brexit stance and drop demands to re-open the withdrawal deal.

After the PM suffered yet another damning defeat on her plans last night it was reported that Steve Barclay has suggested to Brussels that ministers would not press ahead with changes to the text of the deal.

The Sun understands UK negotiators have indicated they will accept surgical tweaks to the Withdrawal Agreement rather than a full reopening of it.

According to sources, Brexit secretary Steve Barclay told Michel Barnier on Monday night the Government is focussed on the ends rather than the means.

But he stressed changes outlining the temporary nature of the backstop must be legally binding to satisfy Attorney General Geoffrey Cox and the DUP.

But EU sources were dismayed he was unable to say what new wording the UK wants on the backstop or what is needed to get the deal through the Commons.

When MPs voted to send her back to Brussels last month Mrs May vowed to fight for legal changes to the text itself.

But while the EU has agreed to talks on the future political partnership, it has said this isn't possible to re-open the sealed withdrawal deal.

Jacob Rees-Mogg told The Sun Online this morning: "I doubt legal verbiage without a change to the text will impress anyone."

And another source said they wanted "real changes not just changed words'".

UK officials insisted the PM was still pushing ahead to try and re-open the deal.

Last night Brexiteers and Remainers inflicted another humiliating defeat on the PM, as 67 MPs pulled their support for her once more.

A fragile truce across the party broke down and a fresh civil war erupted with blame on all sides.

The ERG group of Leave MPs said they just couldn't stomach voting to back the idea that Britain should not leave without a deal.

Steve Baker said this morning it would weaken the UK's negotiating hand and insisted their position was "reasonable and right"

He told Radio 4: "It is a catastrophic, foolish negotiating error and we cannot be associated with it."

And in a fresh warning to the PM to listen to her party, he said that pushing the deal over the line with the help of Labour votes would collapse the Government entirely - as the DUP would no longer support her.

But last night minister Richard Harrington said so-called hardliners should quit the party, and Tobias Ellwood expressed his frustration at the "party within a party" that was calling the shots.

Loyal MPs to Mrs May think they are scuppering her plans at any cost to try and get a deal done.

Commons boss Andrea Leadsom tried to play down last night's defeat as a "hiccup" and said that it "doesn't change anything".

"The PM is still pressing ahead with securing legally binding changes to the backstop to ensure that MPs can give it their support, she told the BBC.

"I hope the EU negotiating team will be absolutely clear, the core requirement of Parliament, remains the issue of the backstop."

BRING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT?
But Remainer Dominic Grieve warned today that a dozen ministers could quit the PM's top team if she doesn't stop a No Deal Brexit from happening later this month.

He admitted it could "bring down the Government" too.

"I think we are talking about a dozen or even more. Not entirely in the Cabinet, some are junior ministers," he said.

"It could all be so chaotic, it might just happen by accident," he added.

"My view is that if they feel she is not taking those steps, I think they are going to have to resign."

Meanwhile, the EU reacted with frustration and confusion at last night's vote.

CONFUSION IN THE EU
Greek foreign minister George Katrougalos told Today that it was "part of the contradictory message that we are receiving as the 27 from the UK".

Mr Katrougalos said: "It complicates even further the situation. It's very, very difficult to be optimistic about Brexit under these circumstances.

And French diplomat Nathalie Loiseau said last night's vote has "further heightened the uncertainties" over Brexit.

Jeremy Corbyn will meet with senior eurocrats next Thursday to push his idea for a customs union with the EU.

The Labour leader will hold talks with Mr Barnier and MEPs’ Brexit chief Guy Verhofstadt to update them on the progress of cross-party talks.

Last night he suffered a rebellion of his own over Brexit, when 40 of his own MPs defied his orders.

Labour's Yvette Cooper and Tory Sir Oliver Letwin bottled their attempt to tie the PM's hands earlier this week and said they would give her more time to get a deal first.

But the Government was nearly defeated over the issue last month, and if members of the Cabinet felt Britain was heading towards No Deal they could force the PM to act.