Boris goes on the offensive
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is preparing for a Supreme Court showdown over MPs’ plans to delay Brexit, as his aides also draw up plans to ‘‘sabotage’’ the EU’s structures if Brussels grants an extension against his will.
Dominic Cummings, the prime minister’s chief aide, is creating a ‘‘shadow’’ team of advisers to work on plans to fight an emergency judicial review in the UK’s highest court next month if Johnson is unable to secure an election this week.
The prime minister is understood to have told senior officials that he will refuse to meet a demand, enshrined into law last week, for him to request a delay to Brexit if he fails to secure Parliament’s approval for an exit agreement by Saturday October 19.
Downing Street said Johnson ‘‘does not share the rebel interpretation’’ of a bill forced on the Government by a coalition of MPs including 21 Conservatives who have since been ousted from the parliamentary party – meaning that he believes that he could legally ignore some or all of its requirements. Yesterday Conservative MPs indicated that any such move could spark a new walk-out from the party.
David Lidington, the former de facto prime minister, said ignoring legislation would set a ‘‘dangerous precedent’’, while Kevin Hollinrake, a backbencher, said: ‘‘You would see a significant number of Conservative MPs resigning the whip, including me.’’
A senior Whitehall source claimed that Johnson’s team would ‘‘take a chainsaw’’ to any attempts to prevent Brexit on October 31, after the prime minister insisted last week he would rather ‘‘be dead in a ditch’’ than delay the UK’s exit. Johnson has resolved not to resign and to remain in Downing Street even if Jeremy Corbyn manages to win a vote of no confidence in him as a last ditch attempt to delay Brexit after October 19. A senior Number 10 source added: ‘‘If there isn’t a deal by October 18 we will sabotage extension.’’
Downing Street is also preparing to wreak havoc with Brussels by vetoing the Commission’s restructuring process ahead of the October 31 departure date. – Telegraph Group