PM: I'll quit to ensure Brexit happens
Brexit potentially moved a stage closer after Theresa May promised to quit as Prime Minister providing her Withdrawal Deal is voted through.
In a direct appeal for support for her twice-defeated deal, Mrs May told members of the backbench 1922 Committee that she will not remain in post for the next phase of the Brexit negotiations.
Her announcement came as MPs prepared to vote on a series of alternative options for Brexit, including a second referendum and cancelling Brexit altogether.
She said she "will not stand in the way" of the party having new leadership, telling her MPs: "I am prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended in order to do what is right for our country and our party."
The Prime Minister hopes to bring her deal back for a third meaningful vote this week, although the plan has been thrown into doubt after Speaker John Bercow doubled down on his vow not to allow it back before the House without "fundamental changes".
Prior to Mrs May's announcement a number of Brexiteers from the anti-EU European research Group (ERG) had switched sides to back her deal over fears that Brexit may not happen, including Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant.
Others have since followed, although Mrs may still faces a battle to get the DUP onside.
Dudley South MP Mike Wood, who has backed the deal twice, said there was still work to be done in order for it to pass.
Speaking tonight, he said: It may tip a few extra Conservative MPs into giving her deal the benefit of the doubt, and gives potential leadership candidates a chance to set out their vision for our future relationship with the EU.
"There has been a large shift this week in ERG members who had opposed the deal previously. It remains to be seen if it is quite enough."
Walsall North Tory MP Eddie Hughes, who is considering supporting Mrs May's deal having previously rejected it, said: "The Prime Minister is right to ensure we have a smooth transition to a new leader who will lead us through the next stage of the negotiations."
If the deal is passed by next week the UK is scheduled to leave the EU on May 22, with a Conservative leadership election set to start shortly after that in order to have a new Prime Minister by early July.
