Boris in retreat over Brexit delay
Britain
Boris Johnson has signalled to cabinet ministers that the government would have to accept a further three-month delay to Brexit if it is forced on him by the courts.
In a private climbdown from his repeated insistence that Britain will leave the European Union on October 31, the prime minister has assured senior colleagues that he will ‘‘abide by the law’’.
understands that Johnson had been warned by several cabinet ministers that their positions would be untenable if he flouted a Supreme Court ruling ordering him to accept an extension. ‘‘The prime minister has assured me that we abide by the rule of law,’’ one said.
The development came as: MPS prepared to again defy Johnson’s attempt to hold an early election, and to launch a move to seize control of the Commons and force the publication of secret Whitehall Brexit documents.
Julian Smith, the Northern Ireland secretary, threatened to quit over the government’s failure to prepare for a no-deal Brexit.
Open conflict broke out among MPS after the resignation of Amber Rudd as work and pensions secretary.
Johnson said last week that he would rather ‘‘be dead in a ditch’’ than ask for another Brexit delay. However, while Downing Street attempted to hold to its hardline public stance over a potential extension, senior ministers suggested yesterday for the first time that the prime minister could ultimately be forced to climb down.
In interviews yesterday Sajid Javid, the chancellor of the exchequer, and Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, both said that the prime minister would obey the law.
‘‘We are always going to behave lawfully as a government, of course you’d expect that,’’ Raab told Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky News. ‘‘It will be challenged in the court but we are going to deal with that legislation and test it very carefully.’’
He added that the government would want to ‘‘test to the limit what it does actually lawfully require’’. Suggesting a possible retreat, he said: ‘‘What I’m going to do is redouble our efforts to get a deal but in any event to leave by the end of October. Of course, if we can’t do that, it is very clear that the blockage is Jeremy Corbyn, the Liberal Democrats and others who are not willing to respect the referendum.’’
Javid told The Andrew Marr Show on BBC One that Johnson would not ask for an extension at a European Council meeting on October 17 but did not rule out complying with any legal order to do so later. ‘‘In case there is no deal agreed in that council meeting, should we get to that position, we will look at our options,’’ he said.
‘‘Of course we’ll obey the law, but we will look at our options. The government will not change its policy, and we will be consistent with obeying the law but also sticking to our policy.’’
Downing Street insisted yesterday that Johnson stood by his pledge not to ask for a Brexit extension under any circumstances.
‘‘The prime minister has been very clear he will not ask the EU for an extension beyond October 31,’’ a spokesman said.
One senior government source said that several cabinet members, including Geoffrey Cox, the attorney-general, and Robert Buckland, the justice secretary, had warned Downing Street that their positions would be untenable if Johnson flouted a Supreme Court ruling that he had to ask for an extension.
Buckland said yesterday that he fully supported the prime minister and would continue to serve in cabinet.
He added: ‘‘We have spoken over the past 24 hours regarding the importance of the rule of law, which I as lord chan- cellor have taken an oath to uphold.’’
– The Times