The most important amendment going on the order paper today is the one in the names of Hilary Benn, Oliver Letwin and Yvette Cooper – because it is the one that would wrest control of shaping Brexit from the prime minister and deliver this control to MPs.
This is a coup against the PM, against the executive, so Theresa May is honour bound to oppose it, to instruct Tory MPs via a three-line whip to vote it down.
But it was clear from what Greg Clark, the business secretary said on my show last night, and what the Chancellor said in his spring statement yesterday, that important members of the Cabinet – them, plus Rudd and Gauke, for instance – support this revolt of the backbenches.
So the first question is whether Clark, Rudd and Gauke – plus other ministers desperate to avoid a no-deal Brexit – will have to rebel against the PM again by either abstaining on the Benn/Letwin amendment or backing it.
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