LABOUR rebels were today threatened with deselection if they defy their boss and vote for Boris Johnsons Brexit deal.
The PM is embarking on a 24-hour charm offensive with Labour Leavers and Tory rebels as he needs their support to get his deal over the line.
But the powerful boss of Momentum, Jon Lansman, tried to turn the screw on rebels by darkly warned the Labour NEC will kick them out.
He tweeted: Johnson’s deal will be a wrecking ball through the lives and well-being of ordinary people across Britain.
Labour MPs cannot and must not vote for it.
If they do, the NEC will have no choice but to replace them with a new, socialist Labour candidate at the next election.
It comes as:
- Two Government ministers were reported to be on ‘resignation watch’ over Boris’ deal
- A fresh plot emerged from Rebel Tories to force Boris Johnson to seek an extension tonight – even if his vote passes
- Labour Remainers are set to make a decision today on whether to push a plan for a second referendum
- EU leaders left the door open to a third Brexit extension if the deal gets thrown out
- DUP MPs started piling on the pressure to Eurosceptic MPs to join them in opposing the deal
- Court of Appeal judges have rejected Libertys bid for an urgent hearing of its case against Prime Minister Boris Johnson over Brexit – as they argue his deal is illegal
Mr Lansman is one of Mr Corbyns closest allies and his Momentum group dominates Labours ruling NEC committee.
But his remarks sparked an explosive row right at the top of the Labour Party, while MPs blasted him for trying to bully MPs into voting the deal down.
Jeremy Corbyn has told Labour rebels they will not be kicked out of the parliamentary party known as having the whip withdrawn.
A Labour HQ source slapped down Mr Lansman, saying: “Members of the NEC will sometimes say things that aren’t party policy.
So far, four Labour MPs have indicated they will vote for Bojos deal. They are, John Mann, Jim Fitzpatrick, Ronnie Campbell and Sir Kevin Barron.
Several more have said they are seriously thinking about it.
REDS AT WAR
A Labour insider tore into the Momentum boss for trying to bully and intimidate MPs into defeating Boris deal.
They told The Sun: Jon Lansman and Paul Mason are calling MPs scabs and trying to bully them. I think a lot of MPs are keeping their heads down so they dont have a target on their back.
It is part of the orchestrated mind control they use to try to enforce party discipline
It is just not very nice. I think a lot of MPs are feeling the emotional pressure. A lot are considering their position and considering how they will vote on Saturday.
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell today said he would go for cosy chats with would-be rebels to try to talk them out of backing the deal in tomorrows historic vote.
And he said there would be “consequences” for MPs in his party who voted for Mr Johnson’s Withdrawal Agreement.
Speaking earlier this week, a Labour source told The Sun that 19 MPs were ready to support a Brexit deal.
The group – including Dan Jarvis, Caroline Flint, Sarah Peacock and Melanie Onn wrote a letter to EU chiefs to assure them they would vote it through.
Last night Mr Corbyn declared Labour will not back the new Brexit deal without bothering to read all of it.
The Islington North MP blasted Mr Johnsons plan and warned it risks triggering a race to the bottom for workers rights.
But he admitted that he had not even read the full Brexit blueprint before dismissing it.
HAMMER THE PHONES
Boris Johnson left the EU summit in the early hours of this morning to jet back to London, after saying he was “very confident” the deal would pass.
The PM will spend the day hammering the phones to MPs in a last-ditch attempt to push his Brexit plans over the line tomorrow.
Two Government ministers were said to be on resignation watch over the deal this lunchtime, The Telegraph claimed.
One was said to be a Cabinet minister and another a junior minister.
If both of them quit to vote for the deal it could tip the balance into MPs voting against it.
And if Labour MPs and Brexiteers fear it will get rejected, they are unlikely to jump on board to back it.
Boris needs handful of ex-Tory MPs, hardline Tories and Labour Leavers to back him in order to seal Brexit’s fate.
Meanwhile, hardline Tory Brexiteers are letting Mr Johnson sweat over whether they will vote his Brexit plan but the government is confident they can win the majority of the 28 Spartans round.
The PM has also left the door open to restoring the whip to the 21 ex-Tory MPs he sacked last month for backing the Brexit-delaying Benn Act in another bid to boost his numbers.
This morning, sacked Tory rebel Margot James has confirmed she will vote for the deal tomorrow.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab today refused to say if Conservatives voting against the deal would have the whip removed.
But he said it was a “cracking deal” for Northern Ireland and all MPs should get behind it.
And he said the Government was continuing in talks with the DUP to”give them the reassurances we can”.
PRESSURE ON
Today the DUP were upping the pressure on their allies in the Tory party to join with them to vote down the deal.
The DUP’s Sammy Wilson said earlier: “Conservative & Unionist MPs must take a stand for the Union and join us in rejecting this deal. Internal & burdensome trade barriers will be erected within the UK without parallel consent from both unionists & nationalists. This is not Brexit.”
