Brexiteers discuss leadership challenge

Conservative MPs opposed to Theresa May's Brexit plan have met to discuss how and when they could force her to stand down as prime minister.

Around 50 members of the European Research Group (ERG) openly discussed "how best you game the leadership election rules," a source said.

Later, the Eurosceptic MPs are to unveil what they say is a solution to the Northern Ireland border issue.

They have been under pressure to come up with alternative Brexit plans.

'She has to go'

One MP present at the meeting on Tuesday evening said the group considered "possible scenarios over the Autumn" depending on the deal the prime minister did or didn't get with the EU, BBC political correspondent Jonathan Blake said.

Comments at the meeting were said to include "everyone I know says she has to go", "she's a disaster" and "this can't go on".

One source said "people feel the leadership is out of touch and has lost the plot", but another said changing the leader "is a stupid idea now".

Under current rules, a Conservative leadership contest is triggered either if the leader resigns, or if 15% of Tory MPs (currently 48) write to the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, demanding a vote of no confidence.

The ERG strongly opposes the government's proposals to avoid the need for new border checks after the UK leaves the EU, as outlined in what has become known as the Chequers plan.

Alternative plans for the border are due to be unveiled at an event in London which will be attended by former Northern Ireland Secretaries Owen Paterson and Theresa Villiers, the former Brexit Secretary David Davis and former Northern Ireland First Minister Lord Trimble.

Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, who chairs the ERG, said that the group would offer a solution "that any reasonable person would accept".

'Harmonisation'

With the UK due to leave the EU on 29 March 2019, the challenge has been to avoid a so-called hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland - which is an EU member.

Both sides are keen to avoid the imposition of barriers and checkpoints amid warnings of damage to cross-border trade and disruption to the Good Friday Agreement, which was signed in April 1998 and helped bring an end to 30 years of sectarian conflict, known as the Troubles.

The government says its plan for "harmonisation" with EU trade rules and a "combined customs territory" with the EU will avoid friction at the border.

It says Parliament will be able to choose to diverge from the EU rules, "recognising that this would have consequences".

But critics say this would deny the UK the trade freedom it needs.

The government's Chequers plan has not yet been accepted by the EU. Both sides have also agreed on the need for a "backstop" to avoid new physical infrastructure on the border, irrespective of the final deal that is negotiated.

Some Brexiteers have claimed the border issue is being "exploited" by the EU and Remain supporters to keep the UK closely tied to Brussels.

Boris Johnson was among leading Tory MPs at an event discussing a "clean break"

Speaking at an event on Tuesday, Mr Rees-Mogg said the border was the only thing standing in the way of the UK negotiating a free trade deal like the EU has with Canada.

He added: "It is possible to move very swiftly to a Canada-plus style deal as long as we can come up with a scheme, which I think we have got for tomorrow, on how do you ensure a solution to the Northern Ireland problem that any reasonable person would accept?"

Prime Minister Theresa May has said a free trade deal would not avoid a hard border and that this can only be achieved with "friction-free movement of goods" with no customs or regulatory checks.