Boris Johnson leaves Remainers reeling with masterstroke to close Parliament to push through Brexit
BORIS Johnson today left Remainer plotters reeling — after wrong-footing them with his mammoth Brexit masterstroke. The PM had repeatedly played down the possibility of proroguing the Commons. But he asked the Queen for her approval to suspend proceedings for nearly five weeks from as early as September 9. Remain MPs, dubbed the “Rabble Alliance”, […]
BORIS Johnson today left Remainer plotters reeling — after wrong-footing them with his mammoth Brexit masterstroke.
The PM had repeatedly played down the possibility of proroguing the Commons.
Remain MPs, dubbed the “Rabble Alliance”, are now left with just four days next week to try to derail Brexit and pass a law to stop a No Deal on October 31.
Senior sources told The Sun that No10’s extraordinary move was designed to prove to Brussels that Parliament will not be able to stop Britain from leaving in October.
They wanted to “flush out” any opposition now in the hope of forcing EU leaders into concessions on the Irish backstop.
One insider said: “The EU will never negotiate with us and consider changes to the backstop if they believe Parliament can block a No Deal.
“As well as having the advantage of sending Remainers into meltdown and putting them on the back foot, this is about showing the EU that they have to come to the table.”
They said: “It will expose Remain MPs’ real agenda and stop them mucking around in the run-up to the EU Council in October.”
SHOCK MOVE
Others said Tory MPs minded to side with Jeremy Corbyn to stop a No Deal realised they would “throw away their career” as they would be unlikely to be re-selected to stand in an upcoming election.
Explaining his shock move to ministers on a conference call this morning, Mr Johnson said he wanted to go on the “front foot” as the rebels were likely to launch an imminent challenge.
Sources claimed Health Secretary Matt Hancock – who slammed the idea of prorogation in the Tory leadership campaign – remained silent throughout the call.
Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith, Theresa May’s ex-chief whip, demanded to see legal advice.
Jubilant Tory Eurosceptics lauded the PM’s move – saying it struck a marked contrast with Mrs May’s “surrender” to Remainers when she extended the original March 29 Brexit deadline earlier this year.
Former party leader Iain Duncan Smith said: “No10 has finally put electrodes on the Remainers and made them re-moan. They can dish it out but they can’t take it.”
Mr Corbyn, opposition leaders and Tory rebels including ex-Chancellor Philip Hammond launched into frenzied talks yesterday to work out a way of reversing prorogation and stopping a No Deal next week.
The cross-party rebels are expected to launch their move on Tuesday by attempting to take over Commons business – with the support of Speaker John Bercow.
A “backbench” bill would then go to a vote – most likely compelling Mr Johnson to seek a deadline extension unless an EU deal has been approved by Parliament.
Mr Hammond branded Mr Johnson’s suspension of Parliament “profoundly undemocratic”.
He was last night scrambling to ensure enough Conservative MPs back the plan – telling them “they have to do something” by the end of next week.
In a second threat, more than 70 MPs tonight applied for an injunction to bring forward a legal challenge to the decision to suspend Parliament.
The judgement – to be heard in Scotland’s highest court – could deliver its ruling as early as tomorrow.
Separately tonight, anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller launched a judicial review of No10’s prorogation decision.
No10 has finally put electrodes on the Remainers and made them re-moan. They can dish it out but they can’t take it
Former Tory party leader Iain Duncan Smith
But Downing Street sources insisted the rebels would run out of time. One said Mr Johnson would not be duty-bound to extend the deadline – forcing MPs to instead risk a No Confidence vote and a General Election, which would take place after the UK leaves the EU.
Asked if it would comply with or ignore any Parliamentary vote, a No10 source said last night: “The PM doesn’t think politicians should try and cancel the result of the referendum.”
Mr Johnson spoke to the Queen by phone this morning to make the prorogation request.
Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg and chief whip Mark Spencer flew to Balmoral for a Privy Council meeting with Her Majesty to formally table the request.
Under the extraordinary move, the PM will be able to suspend Parliament no earlier than Monday, September 9 and no later than Thursday, September 12.
MPs would not return to Westminster until Monday, October 14 for a new Queen’s Speech.
No10 aides insisted that Parliament was already due to rise for party conference season, so the prorogation only removed another four sitting days in October.
In a brief TV interview, Mr Johnson insisted it was “untrue” to say he was trying to stop plotters derailing Brexit by reducing parliamentary time before October 31.
He insisted that he needed a new Queen’s Speech to set out a “very exciting agenda” of domestic policy.
And he said that, by coming back on October 14, he would be able to bring forward a new Withdrawal Agreement if a deal can be done with Brussels.
A crunch EU Council summit also takes place days later.
Mr Johnson said: “There will be ample time on both sides of that crucial October 17 summit, ample time in Parliament for MPs to debate the EU, to debate Brexit and all the other issues.”
But Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon branded him a “dictator”.
Mr Bercow also tore into the PM from his holiday, saying he was “undermining democracy”.
He added: “However it is dressed up, it is blindingly obvious that the purpose of prorogation now would be to stop Parliament debating Brexit and performing its duty in shaping a course for the country.”
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell called it a “very British coup”.
Longest gap since 1945
PARLIAMENT will be suspended for up to five weeks in an act known as prorogation.
The current sitting session, which began in 2017, would usually have lasted a year or so and has become the longest since the Union of England and Scotland in 1707.
Prorogation means to formally end a session. Since 2010 it has averaged eight days.
Today the Queen agreed to suspend Parliament for 35 days — the longest since 1945.
Times that Parliament has been prorogued for political purposes include 1948, when Labour’s Clement Attlee was struggling to pass a law. And in 1997 John Major did it for three weeks ahead of an election to avert a potentially embarrassing debate.
Charles I ordered a suspension in 1628. He then ruled without a Parliament until 1640, before the country descended into a Civil War which ended with him losing his head.
MOST READ IN BREXIT
Mr Hammond blasted his colleague, fuming: “It would be a constitutional outrage if Parliament were prevented from holding the Government to account at a time of national crisis. Profoundly undemocratic.”
Brussels chiefs today branded Mr Johnson’s move to suspend Parliament “sinister” and undemocratic and warned it has upped the risk of No Deal.
One EU official told The Sun there was a strong sense that No Deal had become more likely. But they admitted: “It’s a massive game of chicken.”
Loony rants
LOONY-Left Labour MPs today called for the monarchy to be abolished and warned of riots in the streets as they reacted with fury to Boris Johnson’s Brexit move.
Ex-Shadow Minister Kate Osamor said the Queen should remember what happened to her cousin — King Constantine of Greece — when he was forced out after “enabling a right-wing coup” in the 1970s.
She stormed: “Monarchy abolished!”
Fellow Corbynista Clive Lewis insisted police would need to drag him out of Parliament if the PM succeeds in shutting down the Commons.
He said: “I and other MPs will defend democracy. We will call on people to take to the streets.”
And Lloyd RussellMoyle MP demanded a General Strike.
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