Rebel amendment ‘an assault on Government’

ATTEMPTS by rebel MPs to delay Brexit pose a ‘clear and present danger’ to the Government, leaked Whitehall papers suggest.

A cross-party group led by Labour’s Yvette Cooper and Tory Sir Oliver Letwin will today table proposals designed to force an extension to Britain’s EU membership beyond March 29.

Supporters argue it will stop a disastrous No Deal Brexit. But a Government analysis of the plans written by Cabinet Office officials says they would strip huge power from ministers. ‘The Government would lose its ability to govern,’ it concludes.

Last night a Whitehall source said the Cooper-Letwin amendment was ‘constitutionally dangerous’ and could become a ‘Trojan Horse’ for a much wider assault on Brexit and the Government.

If the amendment passes it would take power from the Government over what is discussed in Parliament and hand it to backbenchers. ‘Without this (power)’, the analysis warns, ‘the Government has no control over the House of Commons and the parliamentary business and legislation necessary to progress government policies.’

‘It is difficult to judge the long-term consequences of this approach for the relationship between Executive and Parliament... but clearly, if it were to become common practice it would fundamentally alter the balance of power between Parliament and the Executive,’ it says. In theory, the amendment could allow MPs to command civil service resources and attempt to pass Bills on other subjects not related to Brexit.

Last night a senior Tory MP said: ‘This is not just about stopping No Deal. People are being hoodwinked. But in reality it could upend the way democracy works in this country. Their ambitions go far beyond stopping Brexit.’

Allies of the Prime Minister are urging her to try to buy off the rebels with the promise of a vote on delaying Brexit if she cannot get her deal through on March 12.