Senior MPs refute claims of Commons plot
SENIOR MPS have refuted claims that they are “plotting” with House of Commons clerks to block Brexit.
The rebuttal, by Anna Soubry and Leeds Central MP Hilary Benn, comes after reports in the Sunday Times that former Attorney General Dominic Grieve had been working with clerks on a plan to pause Brexit by extending Article 50.
Ms Soubry, who served as a Minister under David Cameron, said it was less “conspiracy” and more just a case of “people doing their job”.
Appearing on BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show she said: “We really have to stop this narrative, this is not people plotting.
“This is people doing their job because of a profound failing by Government and if Government won’t do its job then Parliament has to take this back.”
Labour former Minister Mr Benn, who chairs the Commons Brexit Committee, added: “MPs doing their job are not plotters, they are trying to sort out the mess the Prime Minister has created. We are facing a national crisis and there are many MPs in the House of Commons whose first priority is to ensure that we do not leave without a deal and therefore finding ways when we come to table amendments this week and debate on January 29 how we stop that.
“To attack House of Commons clerks and suggest they’re part of a conspiracy is a disgrace, our clerks are resolutely impartial.”
He said: “If the Prime Minister doesn’t shift on more than a customs union there isn’t going to be an agreement and as someone who has not been calling for a second referendum because I think we have an obligation to try and honour the first, if in the end Parliament remain deadlocked then there is no other way of resolving this other than by going back to the people.”