Remainer rebels vow to seize control of Commons
REMAINERS backed by Philip Hammond last night vowed to seize control of the Commons as soon as it returns next week and ram through a law to block No Deal.
Despite being outflanked by Boris Johnson’s announcement, anti-Brexit MPs insisted yesterday they could get the legislation passed in five days.
Their apparent aim is to pass a law through the Commons and the Lords to force the Prime Minister to seek an extension to Article 50 beyond October 31.
As furious plotting began in Westminster last night, former chancellor Mr Hammond, indicated he would join efforts to thwart the Prime Minister’s Brexit plans.
And the pro-Remain Commons speaker John Bercow made it clear he would do all he could to help the rebels. Yesterday morning, he put out an astonishing statement branding the suspension of Parliament a ‘constitutional outrage’ and an ‘offence against the democratic process’.
Mr Johnson also faces possible opposition in the courts to his prorogation. Scottish parliamentarians have applied for a court injunction to mount a legal challenge that could force the Prime Minister to reverse the suspension.
Meanwhile, former Tory prime minister Sir John Major suggested he was considering similar action in the english courts.
On Tuesday, Jeremy Corbyn received the backing of five opposition parties – the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, Change UK, the SNP and Plaid Cymru – to pass a law to force Mr Johnson to extend Article 50 again, beyond the current October 31 Brexit deadline. They forced the Labour leader to drop his preferred option of tabling a vote of no confidence, after which he would take over as caretaker prime minister.
Yesterday, Mr Corbyn insisted the noconfidence plan was still on the table – but he accepted the legislative approach was now the priority. He said: ‘The first thing we’ll do is attempt legislation to prevent what [Mr Johnson] is doing’, followed by a vote of no confidence ‘at some point’.
Under this plan, MPs could vote on Tuesday – the day they return from summer recess – to seize control of parliamentary business. Another vote would follow perhaps on Wednesday or Thursday on a piece of legislation – the wording of which hasn’t yet been published – to force Mr Johnson to rule out No Deal and to delay Brexit.
Any law would also need to pass through the House of Lords before Parliament is prorogued sometime in the week beginning September 9. Although Mr Johnson’s move has curtailed the parliamentary time they have available, the rebels are still convinced that they can get the legislation through.
Any attempt to block No Deal would need the support of rebel Tory MPs and last night Mr Hammond indicated he could be one of them. Branding the suspension of Parliament ‘ profoundly undemocratic’, he said: ‘We are determined
‘Offence against the democratic process’
that Parliament will show its resolve to prevent a No Deal Brexit.
‘To be frank, a number of my colleagues would have preferred to... move in late-September. That will now not be possible. We will have to try to do something when Parliament returns next week.
‘I’m not interested in bringing down the Government, I simply want the Government to recognise that the majority in Parliament is against a No Deal Brexit and it is democratically essential that the Government ensures we do not have a No Deal Brexit.’ Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson added: ‘The Liberal Democrats will continue both our cross-party efforts to prevent No Deal, and our fight to stop Brexit altogether.’
Shadow attorney general Baroness Chakrabarti said that if the legislative route did not work, the courts could get involved. ‘I have little doubt that the courts will step up to protect our Parliament and parliamentary democracy,’ she told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Sir John Major said he was still considering legal action to prevent prorogation. He said: ‘I have no doubt that the Prime Minister’s motive is to bypass a sovereign parliament that opposes his policy. I will continue to seek advice on the legality of this and other matters.’
His former deputy, Lord Heseltine, said: ‘I hope that every member of Parliament will use every legal and constitutional weapon to obstruct a government proposing to force on the British people a historic change for which they have long since lost any mandate.’
Meanwhile, a group of parliamentarians has asked Scotland’s top civil court to block Mr Johnson’s bid to suspend Parliament. They are seeking an interim interdict – equivalent to an injunction – that would prevent suspension until a full hearing on September 6. The court is expected to consider their motion today or tomorrow.
Tory MP Michael Fabricant attacked Mr Bercow – who issued his statement while on holiday. Mr Fabricant said: ‘There have been a number of occasions when he has stretched the rules of the House of Commons. So, my advice to him is to get back on holiday and not pontificate from afar.’