Remainers to use Northern Ireland Bill to scupper plans to leave EU
REMAINER rebels are set to launch a fresh bid to block a no-deal Brexit during a Commons vote on Northern Ireland.
Ministers have tabled a Bill to delay any new election to the Northern Ireland Assembly while talks to restore the nation’s power-sharing government are ongoing.
Pro-EU MPs are hatching plans to amend the legislation so it would stop Britain leaving unless a fresh withdrawal agreement has been put in place.
Former attorney general Dominic Grieve said the Bill was a “perfectly legitimate place” to explore ways to thwart a no-deal plan.
He said: “We’re going to have, in the course of the next 24 hours, an important bill on Northern Ireland.
“Northern Ireland and Brexit go rather closely together.
“The chances are, if Brexit goes through – a no-deal Brexit – it is going to be the end of Northern Ireland’s union with the United Kingdom, with serious political consequences flowing from it.
“That’s a Bill that is a perfectly legitimate place to start looking at how one might make sure no-deal Brexits are fully debated before they take place.”
Asked about the possible number of MPs who might back such a bid, Mr Grieve said he did not know.
He added:
“Like all these things, colleagues are pulled in different directions, perfectly understandably, by various considerations.
“I have got a very clear idea of what is necessary in the current crisis.
“But that does not mean to say that colleagues will necessarily always agree with me, even though they are people with whom I try to work closely.”
Jacob Rees-Mogg, chairman of the pro-Brexit European Research Group of Tories, insisted the only way to stop no-deal was to pass a new law.
He said: “The House of Commons and the House of Lords have passed the necessary laws to leave on October 31 and the only way to stop that would be to revoke those laws, and I would be very surprised if that happened.” Meanwhile, former Tory leadership hopeful Sam Gyimah has claimed more than 30 of the party’s own MPs could vote against a no-deal Brexit.