Theresa May takes fight to the 'new b*****ds' trying to stop Brexit as campaigners launch NEW legal fight to stop us leaving single market

• .One of the men behind the Government legal challenge coined the word 'Brexit' 
• .Theresa May is under pressure after group questioned Government's position 
• .A think tank argues EU exit should not mean leaving the single economic market 

By Matt Hunter For Mailonline

Theresa May is under pressure after more campaigners questioned Brexit 

Theresa May's allies have dubbed troublemaking MPs ‘the new bastards’ as the Prime Minister faces another legal challenge to Brexit and pressure in the Commons.

The Government is facing another challenge after a group announced it would take action to ensure Britain stays in the single market.

At the same time, a group – of up to 40 MPs – wants Mrs May to publish her plan to quit Europe and to avoid a ‘hard’ Brexit – one that leaves us out of the single market.

The Sunday Times says today this group is now meeting weekly in the Commons, and is said to include Nicky Morgan, Anna Soubry and former Chancellor George Osborne.

The newspaper also says Tory chief whip Gavin Williamson has even been detailed to keep a close personal eye on the trio.

The ‘new bastards’ label is a nod to the ‘bastards’ former Prime Minister John Major said were trying to thwart him over Europe.

Once Eurosceptics, the term now applies to Europhiles. 

Mrs May is under pressure after more campaigners questioned what the historic EU referendum means to the country’s relationship with Europe.

Lawyers for British Influence, a pro-single market think tank, argue leaving the EU should not mean exiting the single market which European countries use to trade with each other.

The group will write to the Government next week and warn that legal action will be taken unless Parliament is given more input on the conditions of Brexit.

The Government is already entangled in its Supreme Court appeal to ensure ministers can approve the formal EU exit – under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty – without Parliament's agreement. 

British Influence argues the June 23 Brexit referendum gave ‘no mandate’ to also leave the single market.

Mr Wilding, who is a Remain supporter, has been tweeting about the think tank, British Influence's bid to stay in the single market 

The government (left) is facing yet another legal challenge to Brexit which has been made partly by Peter Wilding (right)

On its website, the group states: ‘Remaining in the EEA (European Economic Area) is fully compatible with the Brexit referendum 'red lines' of ending budget contributions to the EU, repatriating legal sovereignty and, to a significant extent, free movement of people.’

The think tank argues that leaving the single market must be done through invoking Article 127 of the European Economic Area agreement – which Brexit did not directly address.

One of the think tank’s directors, Peter Wilding, who coined the term ‘Brexit’, said: ‘This is the solution to Brexit. 

'We believe the Government has not understood the value of remaining in the EEA after Brexit, nor has it understood how we leave the EEA, or that we do not need to leave the EEA in order to respect the red lines the June 23rd referendum established. 

'This is not about stopping, thwarting or delaying Brexit, but getting a smarter Brexit that delivers for the UK and doesn’t destabilise the continent of Europe.'

Mr Wilding is a Remain supporter but the other backer of the legal challenge is the Tory lobbyist Adrian Yalland, who voted for Leave.  

Commentators think that although MPs will vote for the country to leave the EU, they will not necessarily back a separate bill to allow Britain to exit the single market.

This could do serious harm to Mrs May’s pledge to cut migration as to be part of the single market means allowing freedom of movement.