So the ERG Tory Brexiter had a meeting with the Chief Whip this morning - I’m told the PM is now meeting with the other side - the Conservative Group for Europe MPs in the Commons. Some suggestion they might be asked to drop customs union amendment to Trade Bill...
After this morning’s ERG Chief Whip meeting, Owen Paterson not happy: “third way” “completely at odds with referendum result” ... “little more than a rebrand of the New Customs Partnership” 
40 Brexiter Tory MPs present with Chief Whip, Backbenchers suggest
- PArty is “toast if we welch on Brexit”
- Brexit Bill conditional on deal
- no more civil servant [ie Robbins] led meetings, ministers [ie Davis] lead in meetings/ in room in Brussels
- visible No Deal planning
- PArty is “toast if we welch on Brexit”
- Brexit Bill conditional on deal
- no more civil servant [ie Robbins] led meetings, ministers [ie Davis] lead in meetings/ in room in Brussels
- visible No Deal planning
They say Chief Whip read out manifesto promise on leaving single market and customs unions said plan would be “manifesto to the letter” - no single market, ECJ application in UK, Freedom of Movement. Some scepticism about whether adhere to in spirit
They say Chief Whip gave an unequivocal No to the suggestion that transition could be extended, even when both Liam fox and Greg Clark ceretainly did not speaking to out @SophyRidgeSky
And as reported elsewhere, James Gray is reported to have said last night’s weekly Brexiter ERG meeting “angriest such meeting he had ever been to.. even stretching back to Maastricht”, and that if Cabinet reneged on promises, then certain disaster awaits
Sidenote: the angry ERG meeting in Committee Room 2 last night, Eurosceptics were waiting in corridor for the previous users to finish meeting - the Europhiles from the Cons Group for Europe. They are now meeting with PM, not just Chief Whip, two of them told me.
