Tim Shipman’s ‘All Out War’ Book Opposed By Theresa May Supporters

By Ben Kerrigan-

The claim made in the book that Mrs May urged Mr Cameron not to demand an “emergency brake” in 2014 for fear of upsetting other EU leaders has been flatly denied.

The book, written by Sunday Times political editor Tim Shipman, claims Cameron had wanted to push for an ‘’emergency brake’‘, as part of his EU renegotiation. It argues that the measure was aimed at convincing voters that  Cameron would be able to reduce immigration if Britain remained in the EU.

David Cameron’s vision hit a hurdle when he was persuaded against doing so by Mrs May, and current chancellor, Philip Hammond, now the chancellor, according to the claims of the book.

Mrs May opposed Mr. Cameron’s idea because she feared such a measure would upset German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the book claims. Shipman quoted an aide to Mr Cameron as saying: “Hammond spoke first and argued we just couldn’t do something that would receive an immediate raspberry in Europe.

Supporters of Theresa May say she wrote to Mr Cameron twice to make the case for a measure consistent with the so-called ’emergency break’.

However, according to details released by Mrs May’s camp to the BBC, the prime minister twice wrote to Mr Cameron – in November 2014 and May 2015 – arguing for an emergency brake.

 In one of the letters, she is said to have proposed an emergency brake as part of a series of measures to rebalance the rights of citizens to move within the EU.

Sources said she argued it would allow national governments to act in the best interests of their resident populations.

She argued in a second letter, that an emergency brake was crucial to cutting numbers and convincing the public the government was capable of policing its own borders.

.“They also pointed to articles from 2013 and 2014 in which Mrs May called for reforms to freedom of movement.

He added: “Everything Downing Street are putting out is wholly consistent with what I’ve written and they are not in any way disputing the details of what happened in that meeting.”

The claim is supported by the facts in a second book written by former Downing Street director of communications, Sir Craig Oliver. Oliver claims Mr Cameron felt” badly let down” by Mrs. May during the EU referendum campaign, in the process becoming an ”enemy agent” who 13 times failed to back the prime minister.

However, former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith, told the BBC than Remain campaigners to “get behind Theresa May instead of carping”.

“Craig Oliver’s is one of a growing number of foolish attempts by ex-government Remainers who lost to shift responsibility for their failure.

“The grown-up thing for them to do, instead of carping, is to show some humility and get behind Theresa May as she sees Britain out of the EU”.

Duncan Smith’s view is not true; because former EU Remain campaigners cannot  necessarily be expected to support a cause they never believed in.  They must, however, respect the mandate of the government. Obstructing the process of Brexit will be unconstitutional and unacceptable.

The historical relationship between David Cameron and Theresa May provides great insight into the events in Downing Street in the build up to the Brexit outcome of June’s UK’s referendum.