Caroline Lucas has proposed an all-female ‘Cabinet of unity’ to thwart a no-deal Brexit and deliver a second referendum.
The Green MP has urged 10 leading women politicians from across the political spectrum to join forces if Boris Johnson’s government loses a vote of no confidence in parliament.
The women-only group would exist to propose a second Brexit referendum, likely to be a battle between Remain versus no deal.
The former party leader has written to female MPs from Westminster’s main political parties - as well as the SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon - offering to broker a deal.
Labour’s Emily Thornberry, Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson and ex-Tory cabinet minister Justine Greening have also been invited to join.
Warning of time running out to stop “the most extreme no-deal version of Brexit”, Lucas says a Cabinet solely comprised of women would be best suited to find a compromise.
She writes in the Guardian: “Why women? Because I believe women have shown they can bring a different perspective to crises, are able to reach out to those they disagree with and cooperate to find solutions.
“It was two women who began the Peace People movement during the worst of the troubles in Northern Ireland; it was two women who were key to the signing of the Paris agreement on climate; difficult, intractable problems have found the beginning of resolution thanks to the leadership of women.”
Lucas is understood to have begun talks with the women she has addressed in her open letter.
Others addressed include Labour Remainer Yvette Cooper, Change UK MP Anna Soubry, the independent MP Heidi Allen, the SNP’s Kirsty Blackman, the independent Northern Irish MP Sylvia Hermon and Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts.
Lucas wrote: “It is hard to remember a moment in my lifetime when Britain faced a greater crisis.
“A coup led by a small group of rightwing libertarians is all but complete, as the Vote Leave team has been reassembled and taken control of 10 Downing Street.
“They are set upon implementing the most extreme no-deal version of Brexit – and, most terrifyingly, we are running out of time to stop them.”