Brexit: Chris Patten to accuse Theresa May of ‘Dr Strangelove’ tactics and suggest fresh referendum to stop ‘self-harm’

Prime minister’s threat to crash out of the EU without a deal likened to famous Hollywood black comedy about nuclear war

Tory heavyweight Chris Patten will accuse Theresa May of “tactics made famous by Dr Strangelove” as he suggests a fresh referendum may be the only way to solve the Brexit crisis.

The former Conservative party chairman will liken the prime minister’s threat to crash out of the EU without a deal to the famous 1960s Hollywood black comedy about nuclear war.

“These are similar to the tactics made famous by Dr Strangelove: if you threaten that something crazy will happen your opponents will back down,” Lord Patten will say – arguing Ms May would never carry out something so “damaging”.

In a major speech, he will back a Final Say referendum on the Brexit outcome if it becomes clear it is the only way to stop “an act of self-harm”.

“The whole sorry shambles began with a decision to call a referendum in order to try to manage the English nationalist right wing of the Conservative party,” the former governor of Hong Kong will say.

“It may be that we can only end this divisive and impoverishing argument by holding another referendum.

“That may prove to be the only and the best way for Britain to avoid an act of self-harm that would betray the aspirations of so many not least the younger citizens of this country.”

Lord Patten – a staunch opponent of referendums until now – will urge MPs to reject the Theresa May’s Brexit deal in this week’s Commons showdown.

A fresh referendum would be the only way forward if parliament cannot agree softer exit terms, keeping the UK in the customs union and the single market, for example.

Lord Patten’s intervention comes after nine Conservative MPs backed a new public vote, including Jo Johnson and Sam Gyimah, who have resigned from the government in recent weeks.

His old boss, former prime minister John Major, also supports a Final Say referendum – and has called for the Article 50 notice to be revoked, to stop the clock on Brexit.

The speech comes after the prime minister dismissed speculation that she will pull the “meaningful vote” for a second time, because of the scale of the opposition, saying: “We will be holding the vote.”

MPs will resume debating the withdrawal agreement on Wednesday, with the vote expected on 15 or 16 January. Ms May said it would be “that sort of timing”.

However, Ms May appeared unable to point to any significant progress in persuading the EU to give ground on the Irish border backstop – still the key controversy.

The continued impasse points to a big defeat next week, which would plunge the UK into “uncharted territory”, the prime minister conceded.

Speaking in London, Lord Patten will argue the controversy over the backstop has masked deeper problems with the deal agreed with the EU.

“The so-called political declaration is simply a bucket list of what we would like,” he will say.

“Each plus – Canada, Norway, Ukraine – equals a EU minus. Nothing proposed is as good as what we have now.

“We know that every request we make about our future relationship will have to be agreed by each EU member state. We are not just kicking the can full of our unspecified hopes down the road – we are trying to kick it uphill.”