Tory MP Damian Green MOCKS Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron’s inability to BLOCK Brexit
WORK and Pensions Secretary Damian Green poked fun at Tim Farron and the “small number” of Liberal Democrat MPs, saying the party “can’t have much affect” in blocking Brexit.
Damian Green MOCKS Lib Dems' ability to block Brexit
But the Tory frontbencher did raise concern over the 102 Lib Dem peers who can scrutinise bills in the House of Lords.
Speaking on ITV's Peston on Sunday, the MP for Ashford hit out at Mr Farron as he paid homage to Theresa May’s strength as Prime Minister and a party leader.
He said: “You’ve got Tim Farron on later on and you can ask him when he says he wants to grind Government to a standstill.
Damian Green said Lib Dem MPs would have not "much affect" on Brexit
He clearly intends to use, not just his small number of MPs in the House of Commons, who I agree can’t have that much affect, but the more than 100 Lib Dem peers in the House of Lords
“He clearly intends to use, not just his small number of MPs in the House of Commons, who I agree can’t have that much affect, but the more than 100 Lib Dem peers in the House of Lords to try and make it as difficult as possible for the Government negotiating on behalf of Britain the best Brexit deal we can have.
“Now that’s clearly not good for Britain if that happens and so therefore having a strong leader, as the Prime Minister is, re-elected with her own mandate actually will mean that the people on the other side of the table, the European Union negotiators, will know that they’re dealing with a British government that has got a strong new mandate.”
Meanwhile, two Remain-backing Conservative Party MPs have held talks with the Lib Dems over the possibility of defection, according to reports.
Just hours after former Labour Party MP Bob Marshall-Andrews announced plans to defect to the Lib Dems ahead of the General Election on June 8, Mr Farron’s party could receive another boost as two unnamed Tory MPs look set to join the Brexit-bashing party.
A Lib Dem source told the Mirror: “There are at least two who could join us, hopefully some more.”
The Lib Dems have also seen 8,000 new members join the party since the Prime Minister called the General Election on Tuesday, taking the total to 95,000.