FURY OVER EU STILL DECIDING OUR FATE
PM blasts Corbyn for blocking his Brexit deal AND for running scared over a snap general election
BORIS Johnson last night accused Jeremy Corbyn of putting the country’s Brexit fate in the hands of Brussels.
In a furious attack, the Prime Minister tore into the Labour leader for blocking his EU departure deal while also refusing to allow a general election to finally break the parliamentary deadlock.
Britain will now have to “wait and see” how long a Brexit delay the EU will impose as a result of the Opposition’s intransigence,
Downing Street officials said. Mr Johnson is expected to try to dramatically increase the pressure on the Labour leader to allow a general election after a Commons vote earlier this week scuppered the Government’s timetable for approving the divorce deal agreed with the EU.
In the Commons yesterday, he accused Mr Corbyn of dodging a snap poll because of a lack of courage.
And he accused MPs of handing control to Brussels after his efforts to get a Brexit deal through were thwarted – saying the bloc will now decide the fate of the country “on our behalf”.
A Number 10 source said: “Parliament and Jeremy Corbyn have handed control to the European Union so we continue to wait to see what the EU has to say.We’ll have to wait and see Parliament’s terms.” The source added: “This broken Parliament will always vote for a delay rather than a deal. If this Parliament is unwilling to vote for a deal, then we will have to go for a general election.
“If Parliament refuses to get this done, then the only way to sort this out is to give the British people a vote so they can make it clear to Parliament that it’s time to honour that mandate.”
Another Government source said: “We are in a purgatory scenario.”
Downing Street officials expected the EU to grant a Brexit delay until January 31 after the Prime Minister was forced by a law introduced by Remainer MPs to send a request for the postponement to Brussels.
But there were divisions in Brussels last night over the length of the delay, with France pushing for just two weeks.
Mr Johnson and Mr Corbyn held talks yesterday morning in an effort to break the impasse over the Government’s EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill.
Their meeting in the Prime Minister’s parliamentary office broke up after less than an hour with no sign of any progress.
The Number 10 source said: “Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party’s aim is to delay, delay, delay,
delay.” Soon after, the two leaders were embroiled in an angry clash at Prime Minister’s Questions.
Shame
Mr Johnson tore into Mr Corbyn for instructing Labour MPs to vote against both his deal and a timetabling motion needed for the Withdrawal Agreement to progress.
Although a majority of MPs backed the deal, the Prime Minister put the legislation on hold after the Commons rejected the timetable. At
PMQs, Mr Johnson told the Labour leader: “I think it was a great shame that the House willed the end but not the means, but there is still time for the Leader of the Opposition to do that and to explain to the people of this country how he proposes to honour his promise – which he made repeatedly – and deliver on the will of the people and get Brexit done.”
He added: “What I think we would like to hear from him now is his commitment to getting Brexit done.
“That is what the public want to hear, and I am afraid they are
worried that all he wants is a second referendum.”
Mr Johnson, backed by his adviser Dominic Cummings, later took a swipe at Mr Corbyn over his refusal to back an early election.
After SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford agreed to back a snap poll, the Prime Minister told him: “Perhaps the right honourable gentleman might pass some of his courage down the line.”
Mr Johnson gestured towards Mr Corbyn while making the jibe.
Labour sources yesterday india that their party leader could continue to resist an election even if the EU grants a Brexit delay.
Mr Corbyn’s spokesman said: “We will support an election as soon as the risk of no-deal is taken off the table.”
Terrified
The spokesman refused to deny that a no-deal Brexit could still be a potential threat even if the departure is delayed, giving the party a further excuse for refusing to back snap poll. A Tory MP said: “Corbyn is clearly terrified of a general election because Labour’s polling is through the floor. He is going to look increasingly ridiculous the longer he resists a poll.”
Mr Johnson is unable to trigger a snap election without Labour support because the Fixed-Term Parliament Act requires the support of two-thirds of MPs for an early poll to go ahead.
Elsewhere yesterday, Priti Patel insisted security is top priority in the Home Office’s Brexit preparacated tions. The Home Secretary said her department is working on the basis that it will be “foremost of everything that we do”.
New agreements will need to be struck with Brussels on how to cooperate across policing and security services after Britain leaves the EU. Ms Patel told a committee of MPs: “We want to continue our enhanced partnership collaboration to be one of the safest countries in the world.”
GENERATIONS of prime ministers would weep at the humiliating spectacle of our Brexit fate being surrendered into the hands of Brussels. Boris Johnson stunned the world when he negotiated a new Brexit deal. Our once-great Parliament then had the chance to pass the necessary laws so Britain could leave the EU on deadline on October 31.
Labour and the other Opposition parties refused to grasp this opportunity and now we are waiting for the EU to determine how long it is prepared to extend our membership of this union.
It is disgusting that so many MPs want to reject the result of the 2016 referendum and keep our country in the EU, but it is also pathetic that the Labour leadership has blocked a general election.
Mr Johnson is ready to defend his deal at the ballot box but Labour MPs know their party is bitterly divided on Brexit and out of touch with the convictions of millions of voters in its traditional heartlands. The country does not see Jeremy Corbyn as a PM-in-waiting – nor do many Labour MPs.
It is grossly irresponsible for Opposition MPs to stop an election because Britain will suffer if the Brexit debacle remains unresolved and Government is in paralysis.
Only a decisive election will return stability and allow ministers to get on with the vital tasks of strengthening infrastructure, education and the NHS.
Labour has failed to demonstrate leadership. It is time to give voters the power to elect a Parliament that will deliver Brexit and make the most of the opportunities this will unlock.