Bojo could ignore Remainer laws to stop No Deal Brexit as opposition MPs push for new deadline

Natasha Clark
The Sun
Sun, 01 Sep 2019 11:34 UTC

© Reuters / Toby Melville

A pro-Brexit demonstration in London.

BORIS Johnson could ignore any new law to block a No Deal Brexit or simply find a way round it, Michael Gove has suggested.

Rebel MPs will this week give Boris the fight of his career as they bid to try to stop the PM taking Britain out of the EU.

They will take control of the Parliamentary timetable after MPs return to work on Tuesday and try to push through a new law in just days aimed at forcing Boris to seek a THIRD Brexit extension from the EU.

Labour's Sir Keir Starmer said this morning it could be their "last chance" to do so before Parliament is controversially shut down for five weeks.

But Mr Gove told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that he would wait and see what their plan was first before deciding how to stop it.

He was asked whether Boris would obey Parliament's law - if they were able to pass one.

"Let's see what the legislation says," he replied. "You are asking me about a pig and poke.

"And I will wait and see what the opposition try to bring forward."

Boris could also try and find a loophole around any new law.

He could ask the EU for an extension as required, but veto it himself - or ask an EU ally to do so instead.

Boris has also refused to rule out plans to ask the Queen to refuse to give such a bill Royal assent, too, The Sunday Times reported.

The PM is meeting with whips and other members of his top team ahead of this week's showdown to discuss tactics and numbers, it was revealed today.

And they'll discuss what sanctions they could apply to Tories who are set to rebel.

A No10 source said: "Today's discussion will be how far he'll be able to go in deciding what sanctions can be imposed on those backing rebel amendments.

"All options continue to be open to him and his whips in considering how to deal with them."

Mr Gove's comments led to a furious reaction from MPs, who are set to get back to Parliament from their summer holidays on Tuesday.

Labour's Jon Trickett said this morning: "Any move to ignore an act of Parliament would be a full-blown attack on our constitution.

"It is the people, not an un-elected Prime Minister in hock to the vested interests of the richest, who should determine our country's future."

And Tory MP Guto Bebb, who wants another referendum on Brexit, said: "This Government's unprecedented willingness to flout the rules is a disgrace to our democracy."

Meanwhile, Boris is poised to call an election if MPs wreck his Brexit plans this week, The Sun on Sunday revealed.

However, Labour's Sir Keir Starmer said that his MPs could block it if he decides to call a vote for after October 31 - meaning Britain would come up without a deal.

"I believe there has got to be legislation in place to lock this and it unlawful for him to take us out without a deal," he added.

"It is a very simple plan.

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said today that a vote of confidence was "absolutely" still on the table , but the party would be pursuing new laws first.

However, he also poured doubt on whether there was enough time to get it all done.

"It's very difficult to get legislation through in a matter of a few days and the plan is to know that and that's why they are using this tactic," he said.

Brits will get food needed after Brexit, Gove vows

MICHAEL Gove was embroiled in a furious row with the food industry today after he claimed that Brits would have no shortage of fresh produce if we left with a No Deal Brexit.

Bashing down scare stories of chaos at ports which could stop fresh food coming through, the Cabinet minister in charge of Brexit planning insisted that no-one would be at risk.

"Everyone will have the food they need," he told the Andrew Marr Show today.

"There will be no shortages of fresh food."

But he did admit that prices could be volatile if we left the EU without a deal.

"I think that there are a number of economic factors in play," he stated.

"Some prices may go up. Other prices will come down."

The British Retail Consortium hit back at his claims, saying it was "categorically untrue that the supply of fresh food will be unaffected under a No Deal Brexit".

A spokesperson said: "The availability of fresh foods will be impacted as a result of checks and delays at the border.

"Indeed, the Government's own assessments showed that the flow of goods through the channel crossings could be reduced by 40-60% from day 1, as would the "availability and choice" of some foods.

"The BRC's own assessment has shown that soft fruits and vegetables, such as strawberries, tomatoes and lettuces, would likely see reduced availability as they are largely imported during the winter months."

Remainer rebel 'willing to be sacked' by the Tories for voting against a No Deal Brexit this week

REMAINER rebel David Gauke is willing to be sacked by the Tories this week for voting to stop a No Deal Brexit, he said today.

The ex-Justice Secretary gave a strong hint that he would not be cowed by No10's threats to withdraw the whip from anyone who voted to thwart Boris' Brexit plans.

Speaking to Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday today he said: "Sometimes it's between personal and national interests and the national interests have to come first.

"But I hope it doesn't come to that."

The Sun revealed yesterday the latest plan to try and keep rebels in line is to withdraw the whip - which would mean they couldn't stand as a Tory in the next election.

Some of the rebels are set to meet with Boris Johnson tomorrow ahead of a Parliamentary showdown this week.

MPs are poised to take control of the Commons and force through their own laws - but they haven't spelled out their exact plans yet.

20 former ministers were reported to have discussed running as "independent Conservatives" if a snap poll happened in weeks.

Philip Hammond, the former Chancellor who is organising MPs to try and stop a No Deal Brexit, said it would be "staggeringly hypocrytical" to ban them form the party as "eight members of the current cabinet have defied the party whip this year".

Comment: RT reports:

No alternative: Leaked docs reveal Johnson has no viable substitute for Irish border backstop

The document, prepared for the EU Exit Negotiations Board and dated 28 August, reportedly shows that the findings of all Brexit advisory groups assisting the British government are being kept secret so as not to interfere with Brexit negotiations with the European Union, particularly those that pertain to the backstop issue.

The backstop would ensure the UK would still follow EU regulations governing consumer products, food, animals, and vehicles within the single market guidelines and customs union eliminating the need for a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

So Brexit in name only?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has flat-out refused to accept a backstop arrangement, a hangover from his predecessor Theresa May and her failed Withdrawal Agreement, while claiming there is a plethora of alternative solutions.

However, according to these leaked documents, none of these aforementioned "abundant solutions" are actually viable and that a hard border could be on the cards.

"It is evident that every facilitation has concerns and issues related to them. The complexity of combining them into something more systemic and as part of one package is a key missing factor at present," the documents read.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is already a third of the way through the 30-day target set by German Chancellor Angela Merkel for Johnson to formulate an alternative border proposal. The UK is expected to leave the EU on October 31, with Johnson vowing to do so, "deal or no deal."

The proposed technological workarounds to the backstop are fraught with problems, according to the report.

An artificial intelligence-powered option would not effectively detect disease and chemical contamination of food while onboard vehicle technology to track the location, weight and temperature of food would be susceptible to tampering or gaming.

In addition, checks on physical goods could create weeks-long backlogs and 'quarantine' periods.

The report also undermines the current forerunner to replace the backstop, the "trusted trader" scheme, as it would require substantial infrastructure to work which may prove undeliverable.

The UK's Department for Exiting the European Union has thus far declined to comment on the leaked documents.

Johnson vowed to step up the tempo in Brexit negotiations with the EU while he faces legal challenges to his move to suspend Parliament between mid-September and October 14.

More from RT:

Tories at war: Rebels willing to lose their jobs to block 'no-deal' Brexit

The Conservative Party is in internal open warfare, as its leadership threatens to deselect all Tory rebels planning to stop a no-deal Brexit. Defiant rebels insist they're willing to get the sack over the intractable issue.

This week is being billed by many as 'make-or-break' juncture for the Tory Party, as British MPs return from summer recess with reports that UK premier Boris Johnson has ostensibly warned Conservative Party rebels: defy me on Brexit and get the sack.

As Johnson looks to get Brexit over the line with his planned suspension of parliament on September 9, a rebel alliance of opposition lawmakers, including Conservative MPs, are readying themselves to vote on legislation to prevent the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal on October 31.

One such Tory MP, Antoinette Sandbach, commenting during an interview on Sky News on Monday, appeared undeterred by the threats to remove the party whip from Conservative rebels. She insisted that she was prepared to "put my job on the line" and vote "against no-deal Brexit" later this week.

Sandbach hit out at the "staggering hypocrisy" of Johnson threatening to remove the whip from those Tories who refuse to back the government in any vote to stop a no-deal Brexit. While Sandbach and other rebels backed former PM Theresa May's deal -three times- Johnson failed to do the same.

It comes as Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg told LBC radio that any move to pass legislation to block the UK leaving the EU without a deal would "essentially [be] a confidence matter" in Johnson's government.

"Is there really a conservative in this country who thinks Jeremy Corbyn should control our legislative agenda?" remarked Rees-Mogg.

On Wednesday, Queen Elizabeth II approved Johnson's request to suspend parliament from September 9 to October 14. The move sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from opposition lawmakers, amid accusations that the prime minister was attempting to stage a 'coup' of sorts, by circumventing parliamentary norms at a crucial point in the Brexit process.

Further:

'You don't want an election': BoJo speaks on snap national vote after emergency cabinet meeting

UK PM Boris Johnson pleaded with MPs to avoid another "pointless" Brexit delay, adding that he doesn't want a snap election. He spoke after an emergency cabinet meeting, amid a battle with rebel Tories over an extension of Brexit.

Johnson emerged from 10 Downing Street on Monday evening to loud booing and cheering from a crowd that gathered ahead of the surprise speech.

"I believe we will get a deal at that crucial summit in October, a deal that parliament will certainly be able to scrutinize. And in the meantime, let's let our negotiators get on without that sword of Damocles over their necks, and without an election," Johnson said.

"I don't want an election, you don't want an election. Let's get on with the people's agenda."

However, Johnson wasn't exactly clear on how he would proceed if "tomorrow, MPs will vote with [Labour's] Jeremy Corbyn for yet another pointless delay."

"I don't think they will, I hope that they won't. But if they do, they would plainly chop the legs out from under the UK position and make any further negotiation impossible. And so I say, to show our friends in Brussels that we are united in our purpose, MPs should vote with the government against Corbyn's pointless delay," the PM said.

He stressed that "there are no circumstances in which I will ask Brussels to delay. We're leaving on the 31st of October, no ifs or buts."

Earlier, ITV had reported that a vote on a general election is expected Wednesday.

Bookmakers have slashed the odds on a general election, with a wide-range of media outlets reporting that Johnson will lay down a motion on Tuesday, asking British lawmakers to vote for a snap poll.

James Cleverly, the Conservative Party chairman, refused three times to rule out Downing Street calling an election in the next three weeks, in an interview with ITV News.

A rebel alliance of opposition MPs signaled that they will attempt to stop a 'no-deal' Brexit by tabling a new piece of Brexit legislation - extending the deadline past October 31. If successful, it would risk scuppering Johnson's promise to the UK nation - that Britain will leave the EU with or without a deal by Halloween.

Snap election likely?

This move by rebel politicians may force Johnson's hand into calling an election, but it's far from certain whether it will be given the green light by the majority of MPs. Johnson requires a two-thirds majority of lawmakers in the House of Commons to carry a vote for an election.

Earlier, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, taking questions after his speech on Brexit in Salford, suggested that his party would welcome a general election in all circumstances, but some of his backbench MPs remain unconvinced it would be the right tactic.

Labour MPs Darren Jones and Owen Smith warned that voting for a snap poll would risk seeing a 'no-deal' Brexit materialising. Both politicians signaled that they would not back such a move, and that they may not be alone in their thinking.

In the event that a general election is given the go-ahead, it could be held mid- to late-October, before the Brexit deadline day. The law states that there must be 25 working days between an election being formally called and polling day.

See also:

• Brexit break rundown: The Queen approves Bojo's request, MPs are "outraged"
• Alastair Crooke: Germany stalls and Europe craters
• Coralling Trump and BoJo: US Senators threaten to block trade deal with Britain if Brexit imperils open Irish border
• Still Confused About Brexit? It's Actually Pretty Simple...
• Brexit: A Political Farce Based on a Public Lie

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