No10 says we leave on Oct 31. Queen says it’s a ‘priority’
Johnson’s spokesman says ‘style of language’ used in Queen’s speeches to blame for difference in tone
BRITAIN’S priority is to leave the European Union at the end of this month, the Queen said yesterday.
The Queen’s Speech set out six Brexit-related Bills of 26 that the Government wants to pass through Parliament, despite the fact that it does not have a majority in Parliament.
Her Majesty told MPS and peers that her “Government’s priority has always been to secure the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union on October 31”.
Although making clear that the Government wants to leave the EU, the Queen’s language was less direct than a written government executive summary published alongside the Speech that said simply that “we are leaving the European Union on 31 October.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said later that the difference in tone was because “there is a particular style of language always used in Queen’s Speeches”.
He declined to say whether No 10 had used different ways to describe the UK leaving the EU to avoid embarrassing the Queen, adding: “The language in the Queen’s Speech was the language which was suggested by the Government.”
A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the words spoken by the Queen were “a matter for Government” and declined to comment further. However, any difference in wording may be part of No10’s attempts to keep the Queen out of any constitutional crisis over Brexit.
The Daily Telegraph disclosed in August how Sir Mark Sedwill, the most senior civil servant, and Edward Young, the Queen’s top courtier, spoke on the phone about the increasing calls for the Queen to step in if Mr Johnson lost a vote of no confidence.
Last month, Sir John Major, the former prime minister who is said to be close to the Queen, said he feared the Government would try to bypass legislation requiring a Brexit extension by using an order of the Queen’s Privy Council of advisers. Sir John said the move, which could be accomplished without the Queen’s consent, would be a “piece of political chicanery that no one would forgive or forget”.
Mr Johnson was also accused of “lying” to the 93-year-old monarch after the Government’s five-week prorogation of Parliament was deemed “unlawful” by the Supreme Court last month.
The judgment heaped the blame firmly on the Prime Minister while absolving the Queen of any responsibility, stating: “We know that in approving the prorogation, Her Majesty was acting on the advice of the Prime Minister. We do not know what conversation passed between them when he gave her that advice. We do not know what conversation, if any, passed between the assembled Privy Counsellors before or after the meeting. We do not know what the Queen was told and cannot draw any conclusions about it.”
Privately aides were said to be dismayed that a Privy Council order leading to the exercise of a Royal Prerogative should be ruled unlawful.
Although Mr Johnson spoke with the Queen within 24 hours of the shock ruling, Downing Street refused to confirm whether he had apologised.
The Sunday Times reported this month that Mr Johnson was planning to dare the Queen to sack him rather than resign as Prime Minister in an attempt to drive through Brexit by Oct 31.
Senior aides said Mr Johnson would not stand aside if his proposals were rejected by Brussels and MPS tried to unseat him to avert a no-deal Brexit.
They said Johnson was prepared to “squat” in Downing Street even if MPS declare no confidence in his Government and agree a caretaker prime minister to replace him.