Senior Tories said one silver lining of a long extension would be that it would allow them to move quickly to force May out, and hold a leadership election starting as soon as this month. Last month May told Tory MPs that she would stand down once Brexit had been delivered. They believe it would stop a new Tory leader, such as Boris Johnson, shifting to a harder Brexit once May has been replaced. Meanwhile the new Independent Group of 11 former Labour and Tory MPs said it had been approached by more than 200 people, including one former Tory minister, who wanted to stand for the embryonic party in the European elections. It sees the elections as a chance to mobilise remain voters and make its first electoral breakthrough.

Source: The Guardian April 06, 2019 19:30 UTC