The prospect of a no-deal Brexit has come closer as contenders for the Conservative leadership responded to their humiliation at the hands of Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party by vowing to take the UK out of the European Union in October.
The Tories were plunged into a humiliating fifth place in the European parliament election with just 9 per cent of the vote, losing all but four of their 19 MEPs as a rampant Brexit Party won over millions of voters frustrated at Theresa May’s failure to leave as planned on 29 March.
Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said the results amounted to an “existential risk” for the party, warning that “unless we unite and deliver Brexit, the public will continue to punish us at the ballot box”.
Esther McVey, the only candidate openly campaigning for a no-deal withdrawal, said: “The message from our voters is clear – we must leave the EU on 31 October with a clean break, nothing else will wash now.
“People saying we need a Brexit policy to bring people together are misreading the situation. That is clearly not possible.”
Home secretary Sajid Javid, who entered the crowded race for the succession on Monday, was alone in stressing the need to “bridge divisions” in the hope of healing the scars of the long-running debate over EU membership.
In a social media video released under the hashtag #TeamSaj, he said he wanted to “rebuild trust, to find unity and to create new opportunities for our country”.
Ms May said it had been a “very disappointing” night for the Tories which had shown “the importance of finding a Brexit deal”. And she added: “I sincerely hope these results focus minds in parliament.”
The prime minister – who announced her resignation plans on Friday – had never wanted the UK to take part in the elections to the European parliament, three years after the referendum decision to quit the EU. She made only the briefest foray onto the election battlefield, failing to launch the campaign or produce a manifesto.
A triumphant Mr Farage, who demanded a place for his party in EU withdrawal negotiations, said he was ready to “replace” the Tories if they failed to deliver Brexit.
He dismissed suggestions that he would work with potential Tory leaders like Boris Johnson or Michael Gove who had previously voted for Ms May’s deal, asking: “Why would I work with a party I don’t trust? Why would I work with a party who have openly, wilfully lied to the British people?”
Nigel Farage says the Brexit Party could ‘stun everybody’ in a general election
The leadership rivals were united in agreeing that the message from voters was that Brexit must be delivered.
Dominic Raab said: “Voters have sent us a very clear message: unless we get on and actually leave the EU they will rightly kick us out at the next election.”
And former leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom, who quit the cabinet over Brexit days before Ms May’s downfall, said: “It is now vital we find a way to decisively leave the EU.”
Mr Johnson said the Conservatives had been issued with a “final warning” by voters in the European elections and face a “permanent haemorrhage” of support if they do not deliver Brexit.
The leadership frontrunner said his party would be “dismissed from the job of running the country” if it did not respond to Sunday night’s humiliation by taking the UK out of the EU.
Daniel Hannan, one of only few Tory MEPs to retain their seats in the European parliament, insisted the Conservatives’ fortunes would be turned around and the Farage threat neutralised once the UK leaves.
“The appeal of a party called the Brexit Party will dry up very quickly once Brexit has happened,” he said.
Several candidates, including Mr Johnson and Mr Raab, have said they would be willing to let the UK crash out of the EU without a deal on 31 October.
Children’s minister Nadhim Zahawi, who is backing Mr Raab, said on Monday morning he was “not frightened” of that prospect.
But other Tories, including chancellor Philip Hammond and leadership hopeful Rory Stewart, have indicated they could back a no-confidence vote to topple any prime minister who tried to pursue a no-deal Brexit.
