Some Remain MPs want to steal Brexit from the people
“extremely concerning” move, the MPs – led by former attorney general Dominic Grieve – are poised to amend a Government Brexit motion so they can extend the exit process beyond March 29 to give MPs “the time and space to think again”.
Another group of backbenchers led by Conservative Nick Boles and Labour’s Yvette Cooper, both former ministers, are understood to be plotting a separate amendment that would seek to outlaw a no-deal Brexit.
Yesterday, Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary and a leading Cabinet Brexiteer, said Mr Grieve’s antics amounted to an attempt to “steal” Brexit.
“Parliament has not got the right to hijack the Brexit process because Parliament said to the people of this country ‘We make a contract with you, you will make the decision and we will honour it’.
“What we are now getting is some of those who always absolutely oppose the result of the referendum trying to hijack Brexit and in fact steal the result from the people,” he said.
Dr Fox warned that the political consequences would be “astronomigeneral
‘It would be a bitter and dangerous development if 300 MPs could overturn the will of 498 MPs’
cal” if MPs reversed the referendum result to leave the EU, which the Daily Express has campaigned strongly for. “You’ve got a Leave population and a Remain Parliament,” he told BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show.
Brexiteer Tory MP Anne Marie Trevelyan said: “Grieve’s desire to reverse the referendum result, as well as his own vote to trigger Article 50, is such an impossible case to argue that he’s decided to tear up the British constitution instead.
“It would be a very bitter, twisted and dangerous development if 300 MPs could overturn the will of 498 MPs who voted to trigger Article 50, not to mention the 17.4 million who voted for Brexit.”
Tory MPs also said yesterday a snap general election could be on the way as a last-ditch gamble to try to break the parliamentary deadlock.
Supporters of the move are understood to have seen secret Tory polls showing declining support for Labour among voters.
While Downing Street officials dismissed the speculation, Tory MP Huw Merriman said: “When Parliament can’t pass laws, not just on Brexit but on other matters, and the government cannot govern through that, then that’s normally when you have a election.” Fellow Tory MP Nadine Dorries said: “It’s not winter that’s coming, it’s a general election and May’s advisers will attempt to ensure she leads us into it.”
MPs involved in the plot are due to meet at 1pm today in the office of Labour backbencher Hilary Benn, the chairman of the Commons EU Exit Committee, to decide the exact wording of their amendment to the motion due to be laid by the Government.
He denied the move was part of a conspiracy. “MPs doing their job are not plotters. They are trying to sort out the mess the Prime Minister has created. We are facing a national crisis,” he said yesterday.
Crashing
Former Tory minister Anna Soubry, an MP also involved in the amendment plan, said: “This is not people plotting. If Government won’t do its job then Parliament has to take this back.”
In a newspaper article yesterday, Mr Grieve wrote: “When other forms of Brexit, or perhaps some cosmetically enhanced version of the Prime Minister’s deal, have been considered and in all likelihood rejected by MPs, we will have to ask what comes next.
“Steps can be taken to mitigate the risk of crashing out with no deal. Parliament must now unite around urging the Government to request an extension of Article 50 so that we can find the time and space to think again.”
The Government motion due to be
address MPs about the motion this afternoon.
A Downing Street spokesman said yesterday: “The British public voted to leave the European Union and it is vital that elected politicians deliver upon that verdict.
“Any attempt to remove the Government’s power to meet the legal conditions of an orderly exit at this moment of historic significance is extremely concerning.”
Q