Deal I signed is so terrible I just can’t support it
» PM implores outraged Tories to back his bill » Cameron & Javid join the condemnation
BORIS Johnson urged his angry MPs to back the plan to rip up his Brexit deal last night as Sajid Javid joined the Tory rebellion.
The Prime Minister claimed the EU had “not taken the revolver off the table” and that Brussels was being unreasonable.
He said his controversial Internal Markets Bill, which would break international law, was a “safety net”.
In a blistering attack, Shadow Cabinet minister Ed Miliband told the Commons: “I never thought respecting international law would, in my lifetime, be a matter of disagreement.
“He is trashing the reputation of this country and the reputation of his office.” Mr Johnson, who looked furious during exchanges, made a shameless bid to quell the Tory revolt, claiming the legislation was an “insurance policy” that would not be used if a trade deal was struck.
But his ex-Chancellor Mr Javid said it was “not clear” why it was needed to break international law. He added:
“I am regretfully unable to support the bill unamended.” David Cameron also revealed his concern. He said: “Passing an act of Parliament then going on to break an international treaty obligation is the very, very last thing you should contemplate.” It means all five surviving former PMs have spoken out against Mr Johnson’s plan to override the Brexit withdrawal agreement he and the EU signed last year. The Government wants the power to amend the Northern Ireland protocol. Despite expectations the PM would win last night’s vote, Tory whips were keeping a close eye on the number of their MPs who abstained. More party grandees are set to join the rebellion ahead of a Commons vote next Tuesday.
MP Jeremy Wright said he is “profoundly disturbed” by the plans. It means all former attorney generals since 2010 are opposed.
Ex-barrister Rehman Chishti has quit as the PM’s religion envoy, saying the bill is “contrary to the values I hold dearest”. Tory MPs on the Northern Ireland select committee contradicted the PM’s claim the EU has not acted “in good faith”.
FIVE former Labour and Conservative Prime Ministers are right: Boris Johnson threatening to break his own Brexit divorce law is wrong.
Conservative MPs must stand up and be counted in next week’s key votes.
They must defy the Downing Street charlatan and uphold Britain’s international reputation for honesty and integrity. Johnson never “Got Brexit Done”. Going back on an agreement he signed will jeopardise, not safeguard, 43% of British exports and hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Brexit is Johnson’s mess but the worry is that he is way out of his depth and unable to untangle the chaos he has created.
Ed Miliband’s brutal demolition of Johnson left the PM exposed as a vacuous nonentity.