Tories and bookmakers prepare in case of early election

Theresa May has received mixed support for her compromise Brexit custom plans, with some Tory MPs preparing for a general election later this year but foreign minister Boris Johnson backing the Prime Minister.

The Foreign Secretary, speaking in Buenos Aires overnight, called on fellow Brexiters to give May time and space to negotiate Brexit.

Last week, May settled on a compromise plan to keep the whole of the UK tied to a customs union with the EU after 2021, or until an alternative to a hard border in Ireland can be agreed.

“We must now give the prime minister time and space to negotiate this Brexit vision,” Johnson told reporters. “I’m convinced that the prime minister will be true to her promises.”

However, not only are hard-line Brexiters likely to be opposed, but Brussels is also felt likely to reject the plan since it believes that the backstop to prevent the Irish border should only include Northern Ireland and not the rest of the UK.

After hearing May's plans last week and fearing a insurmountable deadlock over Brexit, a number of Tory MPs have begun preparing for another snap general election as soon as the autumn, the Sunday Times reported.

Bookies on Monday morning were only offering odds this morning of 6-1 on there being a poll called this year -- roughly the same chance given to Iceland or Peru winning the Fifa World Cup.

But some MPs have spoken to their local party associations asking to be readopted as prospective parliamentary candidates in readiness for an autumn election, the newspaper said.

Ladbrokes was offering odds at 6/1 for a snap election in 2018 and Betfair the same, as well as putting the chances of a 2019 general election at 11/4, 2020 at 13/2, 2021 at 15/2.

Betfair spokesperson Katie Baylis said: “It’s been a tough year or so for Theresa May and the Tories with the continued worry over Brexit negotiations, the comings and goings of various cabinet ministers and questions over May’s leadership ability and it’s 6/1 that we could see another General Election this year.

"However, despite the issues, the shortest odds for the next election are 11/8 for 2022 - the scheduled date, which means while there are plenty of question marks over this government, most punters think they will stick it out.”