GOVE: WE COULD DEFY NO DEAL LAW

Backlash as he suggests PM will ignore vote to block it in the Commons

mICHAel Gove provoked a backlash yesterday by suggesting the Government may ignore any law passed by mps to block a No Deal brexit.

He said boris Johnson would stick to his deadline of taking britain out of the eU by October 31, come what may.

mr Gove, who is in charge of No Deal preparations, predicted remainer mps would fail to pass legislation to take No Deal off the table. And he hinted that even if they succeeded, the prime minister might defy the law.

rebel mps are threatening to pass a No Deal law this week, probably by ordering mr Johnson to seek another brexit extension.

Asked directly whether the Government would obey any such law, mr Gove told the bbC’s Andrew marr Show: ‘let’s see what the legislation says.’

Asked a second time, he repeated his answer, adding: ‘You’re asking me about a pig in a poke and I will wait to see what legislation the Opposithreat tion may try to bring forward, but we know what their intention is.

‘For me, the most important thing is to bear in mind actually, we already have legislation in place which an overwhelming majority of mps voted for. We already have an eU Withdrawal Act, we already have the notice on Article 50, the process by which we leave the eU.’

mr Gove’s refusal to guarantee that the Government would respect the law provoked an angry response from pro-remain mps.

Former tory minister Guto bebb described mr Gove’s comments as ‘a disgrace to our democracy’.

mr bebb added: ‘Not only are they suspending parliament to try and force through a disastrous No Deal, but now they are suggesting that, even if parliament passed a law requiring the Government to avoid No Deal, they might simply ignore it.

‘Our very democracy is now under from boris Johnson and his Government.’

Shadow Chancellor John mcDonnell, who joined protests against the suspension of parliament at the weekend, also condemned mr Gove’s intervention.

He said: ‘this is a startling move beyond anything we’ve ever seen. Johnson’s Government is becoming an elective dictatorship.’

mr Gove’s intervention is in line with comments from senior government sources who have said mr Johnson is intent on the October 31 deadline. the prime minister ducked questions about the issue yesterday and questioned the point of any further extension.

In an interview with the Sunday times, he said: ‘What would it achieve? We had an extension in march, we had an extension in April, we’re now coming to the end of August. What on earth are we achieving by this?’

mr Johnson did not rule out refusing to seek royal assent for any legislation passed by mps this week, or packing out the lords with brexiteer peers to block it.

He also declined to deny rumours of a snap election. Some ministers believe the pm’s aides are preparing for him to announce a poll as early as the end of this week if mps succeed in blocking No Deal.

Keir Starmer, labour’s brexit spokesman, said it was ‘breathtaking’ that any prime minister would consider defying the law.

Calling for an urgent statement from mr Johnson, he added: ‘No government is above the law.’

Sir Keir said mr Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament meant this week was ‘almost certainly the last chance’ to block No Deal.

He declined to give details of the legislation planned by rebel mps this week but confirmed it would require a further brexit delay unless mr Johnson can secure a new deal in the coming weeks.

‘this should be a very short, simple exercise designed to ensure we don’t crash out without a deal,’ he added. ‘the purpose of the legislation is clear.’

‘An elective dictatorship’