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Sammy Wilson warns British government of 'consequences' over Brexit plans

East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson warned the Tory government of "consequences' over their Brexit plans
East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson warned the Tory government of "consequences' over their Brexit plans East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson warned the Tory government of "consequences' over their Brexit plans

The DUP's Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson has warned the British government against doing a deal that keeps Northern Ireland in the single market after Brexit. 

The East Antrim MP told The Telegraph his party could not support "any deal which includes such economically and constitutionally damaging arrangements".

He added: "If the government decides in the face of EU belligerence to cut and run and leave part of the UK languishing in the stifling embrace of the EU, then that would be totally unacceptable to us and many others in the House of Commons.

"It would have implications not just for Brexit legislation - 50% of which would not have passed without DUP support - but also for the Budget, welfare reform and other domestic legislation."

Speaking the the BBC, Mr Wilson went further by warning that "there will be consequences" if the result of the Brexit referendum is not "honoured for the whole of the United Kingdom."

Mr Wilson said: "One of the consequences is that the votes which we have promised to deliver for their domestic legislation will not be forthcoming."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the DUP's warning was a "very real threat" to the British government and criticised Theresa May for failing to make progress on the Irish border backstop.

"Quite simply, there has to be open trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and that has to be the basis of any agreement," he said.

In a move seen by some as a warning shot, DUP MPs failed to back the British government in voting against a Labour amendment to an Agriculture Bill outlining post-Brexit reforms last night.

Despite their abstention, it was still defeated by 59 votes.

The warning from the DUP comes as former British prime minister Sir John Major said Theresa May is being "bullied" by Tory Brexiteers.

Mr Major famously branded rebellious Eurosceptics during his premiership "b*****s", but said those making life difficult for Mrs May were even worse.

It comes as former prime minister Tony Blair also made a fresh Brexit intervention, with a plea to Labour MPs to "hold firm" against withdrawal.

Mrs May is meeting a small group of senior ministers to update them on progress in the negotiations and Downing Street said there were "big issues still to resolve" in talks with the EU.

In Brussels, European Commission officials said there had been "no breakthrough yet".

Mr Major criticised Conservative MPs who threaten to launch a no-confidence bid in Ms May if she refuses to bow to their demands.

He told the BBC's Political Thinking podcast: "I have great sympathy for her plight and I think the way she is being treated by some of her colleagues is absolutely outrageous."

Sir John attacked the "bullying" of the prime minister by some in the party.

Asked about the "b******s" from his era, he replied: "Their behaviour was pretty intolerable, but not nearly as intolerable as the way the present prime minister is being treated."

In an indication of the febrile atmosphere within the Tory ranks, an MP suggested that the process for replacing Mrs May could be completed in a matter of days.

Mark Pritchard said: "Lots of wild and loose talk about leadership moves. There is no vacancy.

"However, on a technical point, if a vacancy did arise process need not take more than two working weeks - four days in Commons (if needed) and six days with membership - does not need to be an overly long process."

Mrs May appealed yesterday for MPs to come together in the national interest on Brexit.

But Mr Blair suggested Labour should vote down whatever deal she brings back to Parliament in the hope of forcing a second referendum.

He said Ms May was caught in a dilemma between a soft Brexit which would not match the hopes of Leave voters or a more decisive break from Brussels which could hit the economy.

"I would advise them to hold firm against Brexit because either of these choices are unpalatable," he said at an event in London.