Europe reacts to ‘illness’ in Britain

Attorney General Dominic Grieve has underlined his willingness to topple the government.

“If it is impossible to prevent prorogation then I think it is going to be very difficult for people like myself to keep confidenceinthegovernmentand I could well see why the leader of the opposition would wish to table a motion for a vote of no confidence,” he said yesterday. The government’s working majority remains just one.

With early polls suggesting most voters don’t agree with prorogation, and with Ruth Davidson’s likely resignation seriously undermining the Tories’ electoral prospects in Scotland, opponents of a no-deal may also want to look again at the possibility of an election before 31 October. But they will have to move fast. European politicians have reacted with disbelief to Boris Johnson’s decision to shut down Parliament for five weeks ahead of the 14 October Queen’s Speech.

The European Parliament’s Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt tweeted: “‘Taking back control’ has never looked so sinister. As a fellow parliamentarian, my solidarity with those fighting for their voices to be heard. Suppressing debate on profound choices is unlikely to help deliver a stable future EU- UK relationship.”

French MEP Nathalie Loiseau, a former Europe minister, said: “What illness is British democracy suffering from to be fearful of debate before making one of the most important decisions in its history?”

Former Finnish prime minister Alexander Stubb said it “makes me really sad to see what Brexit is doing to one of the great democracies of our time. Please, stay calm and use common sense.”

Norbert Rottgen of Germany’s foreign affairs committee said: “As a fellow parliamentariananddemocratiwonder: how does respect for democracy go together with suspending Parliament?”