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Daniel Kawczynski has urged Prime Minister Theresa May to show leadership (Image: GETTY)
And in a blunt message in which he urged Mrs May to show “leadership”, Brexit-backing Shrewsbury and Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski said any further weakening of her much-criticised Chequers Brexit blueprint would “add an extra layer” into the growing number of Tories opposed to the controversial proposals.
Mr Kawczynski stopped short of backing a leadership challenge or voicing support for potential challengers such as Boris Johnson or Jacob Rees-Mogg.
However, he made it clear that Mrs May risked losing the support of rank-and-file Conservative MPs such as himself – and consequently her job – unless she was able to strike a deal which satisfied those who voted to quit the EU in 2016.
Conceding that striking an acceptable deal would be a challenge, he told Express.co.uk: “Many MPs are currently taking soundings from party members and while we may be prepared to support it while holding our noses at the moment, I think it will be difficult for the EU to accept it as it is.”
However, he warned: “Any further weakening of this country’s position will simply add a whole extra layer of anti-Chequers MPs.
“The reason why I campaigned for Brexit was because I felt that David Cameron came back from Brussels two years ago with a deal which was unsellable.
“As a member of Parliament I think that every MP has to tap into the mood of the people he represents.
“In a nutshell it comes down to Chequers or Canada plus-plus-plus or no deal.
“I do not believe the Government has done enough in this game of chicken with the EU.”
Mr Kawczynski said Brussels was “desperate” for the £39billion the UK is rumoured to be willing to pay to exit the bloc, and urged Mrs May to use this as a bargaining chip.
He added: “The problem with the Chequers agreement is that it has no mojo – it’s no kind of sales brochure, in terms of what we have to gain from Brexit.
“The Prime Minister has to show leadership here.
Michael Gove, pictured leaving Number 10 today, has offered lukewarm support for Mrs May (Image: GETTY)
If she is going to remain impervious to genuinely held concerns then she will be doing something puts her position at risk
“If she is going to remain impervious to genuinely held concerns then she will be doing something which puts her position at risk.
“I want a leader who is going to acquiesce to what the British electorate voted for.
“If she does what she says she is going to do and gets us a Canada plus-plus-plus model then fine.
“In my view, she can continue to be leader until the next election and beyond – the ball is in her court.”
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker delivers his “state of the union” speech (Image: GETTY)
Mr Kawczynski pointed out that Mrs May, while ostensibly pro-Remain during the 2016 referendum, had done very little campaigning, creating the impression that she was trying to stay out of the debate.
He said: “I don’t really buy that.
“This is the single biggest issue of my political life.
“People have to have a heartfelt, passionate, emotive vision for what they want.”
Former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has been touted as a possible replacement for Mrs May (Image: GETTY)
Jacob Rees-Mogg is also regarded as a possible challenger (Image: GETTY)
Mr Kawczynski’s comments come during a turbulent period for Mrs May which has seen 50 backbenchers attend a meeting at Westminster at which they openly discussed ways of replacing her.
And she received lukewarm support from Environment Secretary and prominent Brexiteer Michael Gove who when questioned on the subject of her future, responded: “At the moment the Prime Minister is Theresa May.”
Meanwhile, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker used his speech yesterday to deal a significant blow to the Chequers proposals, reject the idea of Britain staying close to the EU in trading goods while going its own way on services.
Time is running out to strike a deal with the EU prior to March 29, the day the UK quits the bloc, and the original October deadline appears highly unlikely to be met.
Bookies’ comparison website www.bookmakers.tv puts the odds on Theresa May no longer being Prime Minister by the end of the year at 9/4.
A spokeswoman added: “At the moment, 64 percent of bets are on Theresa May stepping down before end of the year.
“As it stands, only 15 percent of bets are on a 2019 exit.”
The odds for her still being in power when the UK leaves the EU are 4/6, while the odds of a no Brexit-deal by April 1 2019 are 4/7.
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