Tory MPs 'privately say loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs worth it for Brexit', Anna Soubry tells Parliament

'Nobody voted Leave on the basis that somebody with a gold-plated pension and inherited wealth will take their job away from them'

MPs have “privately” said that the loss of “hundreds of thousands” of jobs because of Brexit will be worth it to regain the country’s sovereignty, Anna Soubry has said.

Addressing the House of Commons, the MP for Broxtowe delivered a scathing verdict on Theresa May’s Brexit plans, saying that without frictionless trade there would be significant job losses.

Speaking about the government accepting an amendment from the European Research Group, the 60-80 strong organisation of Brexiteer MPs led by Jacob Rees-Mogg, Ms Soubry questioned who was in charge of the country’s Brexit policy.

“If we do not do that [deliver frictionless trade] thousands of jobs will go and honourable members sitting on these benches in private conversations know that to be the case,” she said.

“And what they have said in those private conversations is that the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs will be worth it to regain our country’s sovereignty.”

Ms Soubry said the government was in danger of “not just losing the plot” but also “losing a considerable amount of support”.

"Nobody voted to be poorer and nobody voted leave on the basis that somebody with a gold-plated pension and inherited wealth will take their job away from them.

“Shame on you if you have a manufacturer in your constituency and you have not been to see how they work. You will understand the importance of frictionless trade. It was Margaret Thatcher who championed free trade.”

Ms Soubry's mentioning of Ms Thatcher prompted Brexiteer Edward Leigh, Conservative MP for Gainsborough, to respond: “I knew Margaret Thatcher. I worked for Margaret Thatcher. My honourable friend ain’t no Margaret Thatcher.”

His intervention prompted cries of “pathetic” from backbenchers.