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Hard Brexiteers are like jihadis, says Tory MP

Colleagues put their heads in their hands or tried to stifle laughter as former minister addresses Parliament

Charlotte England

Wednesday 08 February 2017 14:14 GMT

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Tory MP: Hardline Brexit MPs are behaving 'like jihadis'

A C onservative Party MP has compared people who want a hard Brexit to “jihadis”, during a debate in the House of Commons.

Claire Perry, a former minister, warned her colleagues against succumbing to "hysteria" as she discussed triggering Article 50, suggesting this could let extreme factions take control.

Her choice of language caused some of her colleagues to cringe, wince, and put their heads in their hands, while rebel Remain voter Anna Soubry appeared to struggle to stifle laughter.

Ms Perry, MP for Devizes in Wiltshire, also warned she might rebel on some amendments to the Tories' Brexit Bill' in her speech.

MPs had met to discuss the fate of EU nationals in the UK after the country leaves the union.

Ms Perry said: “I have to say that the tone of this debate… sometimes borders on the hysterical.

”I feel sometimes I am sitting along with colleagues who are like jihadis in their support for a hard Brexit . ‘No Brexit is hard enough! Begone, you evil Europeans, we never want you to darken our doors again!’“

She continued: ”Well people say ‘steady on Claire’, I’m afraid I heard speeches last week exactly making that point.

“And the point of this is the more we get this out in the open, the more we are not led by some of the more hysterical tabloid newspapers out there, but actually have an open and frank conversation with each other about what we want to do better.”

How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite

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1/8How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite

How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite

Weetabix

Chief executive of Weetabix Giles Turrell has warned that the price of one of the nation’s favourite breakfast are likely to go up this year by low-single digits in percentage terms.

Reuters

How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite

Nescafé

The cost of a 100g jar of Nescafé Original at Sainsbury’s has gone up 40p from £2.75 to £3.15 – a 14 per cent rise—since the Brexit vote.

PA

How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite

Freddo

When contacted by The Independent this month, a Mondelez spokesperson declined to discuss specific brands but confirmed that there would be "selective" price increases across its range despite the American multi-national confectionery giant reporting profits of $548m (£450m) in its last three-month financial period. Mondelez, which bought Cadbury in 2010, said rising commodity costs combined with the slump in the value of the pound had made its products more expensive to make.

Cadbury

How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite

Mr Kipling cakes

Premier Foods, the maker of Mr Kipling and Bisto gravy, said that it was considering price rises on a case-by-case basis

Reuters

How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite

Walkers Crisps

Walkers, owned by US giant PepsiCo, said "the weakened value of the pound" is affecting the import cost of some of its materials. A Walkers spokesman told the Press Association that a 32g standard bag was set to increase from 50p to 55p, and the larger grab bag from 75p to 80p.

Getty

How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite

Marmite

Tesco removed Marmite and other Unilever household brand from its website last October, after the manufacturer tried to raise its prices by about 10 per cent owing to sterling’s slump. Tesco and Unilever resolved their argument, but the price of Marmite has increased in UK supermarkets with the grocer reporting a 250g jar of Marmite will now cost Morrisons’ customers £2.64 - an increase of 12.5 per cent.

Rex

How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite

Toblerone

Toblerone came under fire in November after it increased the space between the distinctive triangles of its bars. Mondelez International, the company which makes the product, said the change was made due to price rises in recent months.

Pixabay

How Brexit affected Britain's favourite foods from Weetabix to Marmite

Maltesers

Maltesers, billed as the “lighter way to enjoy chocolate”, have also shrunk in size. Mars, which owns the brand, has reduced its pouch weight by 15 per cent. Mars said rising costs mean it had to make the unenviable decision between increasing its prices or reducing the weight of its Malteser packs.

iStockphoto

Politicians have spent days debating late into the night amendments to a Bill which will give Theresa May permission to trigger Article 50, beginning the two year process of exiting the EU.

On Wednesday or Thursday, MPs are expected to approve what could be the last Commons hurdle to Brexit.

Ms Perry campaigned for Britain to remain in the EU, saying: “It is my belief that the greatest economic growth and prosperity will be delivered by remaining inside the Union.”

Wiltshire voted to leave the EU by 52.5 per cent to 47.5 per cent.

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