FURY AT LABOUR PLOT TO WRECK BREXIT

Corbyn plans to sabotage PM’s deal – and set up a second referendum

DOWNING Street last night accused Labour of trying to cancel Brexit by sabotaging withdrawal legislation.

Boris Johnson wants to push his deal through the Commons by the end of this week to avoid Brussels offering another extension. But Labour plans to hijack the Government’s legislation with amendments to keep Britain tied to the EU’s customs union – and to set up a second referendum.

the Democratic Unionist Party sparked further panic in No10 last night by hinting that its ten MPs might support the customs

union plan. If either amendment passes, the Prime Minister might have to abandon the legislation entirely or risk losing the support of Tory Brexiteers.

A pivotal week in the Commons starts today with another attempt to hold a vote on the revised withdrawal agreement. The Government effectively abandoned calling a vote on Saturday, leaving Speaker John Bercow to decide whether to permit a second try.

As ministers said they believed they had the numbers to win the vote:

Tory former Cabinet minister Amber Rudd pledged to back the deal;

Oliver Letwin, who was behind the amendment that sank Saturday’s meaningful vote, also gave his support;

Tory rebel Rory Stewart suggested he would vote for a customs union;

Brussels indicated it would delay a decision on an extension until it was clear whether Mr Johnson would win;

Scottish judges will hear a legal challenge this morning on whether the Prime Minister broke the law by telling EU leaders he did not want a delay;

Michael Gove said he was triggering Operation Yellowhammer plans to handle a No Deal Brexit.

The Prime Minister will publish the Withdrawal Agreement Bill today

‘Preparing dozens of amendments’

under the assumption that the Commons starts voting on it tomorrow.

But Sir Keir Starmer warned that opposition MPs were preparing dozens of amendments that could effectively wreck the legislation.

Labour’s Brexit spokesman said the party would order its MPs to support efforts on forcing a second referendum; on staying in the customs union; and on blocking No Deal if trade talks fail by the end of the transition period.

A No 10 source said Labour should come clean: ‘Do MPs want to respect the referendum like they claim to and leave the EU with a good new deal on October 31?

‘Or, as with Labour’s torturous policies on a customs union or a second referendum, do they want to frustrate and cancel Brexit altogether?’

The support of the DUP could allow the customs union amendment to pass. Its Brexit spokesman, Sammy Wilson, yesterday warned Mr Johnson that the votes of its MPs were ‘crucial on the issue of Brexit’.

He said the DUP ‘does not seek a second referendum’ but a Brexit where the UK leaves ‘as one nation’. This opened the door to supporting the plan to keep the whole of the UK in the customs union, rather than creating separate arrangements for Northern Ireland.

Brexiteers oppose the move because it would restrict Britments ain’s ability to strike independent trade deals.

Sir Keir yesterday suggested Labour and the DUP could work together. Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, he said: ‘I would openly invite the DUP to talk to us.

‘If you want to work with us to improve the situation we’re in, our door is open to that discussion.’

Some of 21 rebel former Tories, including former chancellors Philip Hammond and Ken Clarke, could back the customs union plan. Mr Clarke tabled a similar proposal that was defeated by just three votes in April.

Gloria De Piero, a Labour MP who Mr Johnson had hoped would back his deal, also signalled her support.

She tweeted: ‘A customs union amendment is what I’ll be working for. I am convinced we can get majority support for it. It would enable us to stay true to the Labour manifesto every Labour MP was elected on.’

Sir Keir added: ‘I suspect there’ll be dozens of amendput down this week. We will work through all of them, we will decide which ones we’re supporting.

‘We’ve been arguing for a very long time now for a customs union with the EU and for single market alignment.

‘There are other amendments that are really important because there is a trap door to No Deal at the end of 2020 that we need to deal with and close.

‘And of course we need an amendment to say that whatever deal gets through it should be subject to a referendum where that deal is put to the public and they’re asked, “Do you want to leave on these terms of would you rather remain in the EU?” So this week’s going to be busy.’

Steve Baker, the leader of the European Research Group of Brexiteer Tory MPs, has suggested they could remove their support for Mr Johnson’s deal if it was significantly amended.

He urged the group to support the Withdrawal Agreement Bill and ‘vote for it through to completion provided that that legislation is not wrecked’.

THE whole country now knows how Alice felt when she slipped through the Looking Glass into an unreal world of perverse, irrational behaviour.

On Saturday, MPs claiming to want an honourable and orderly Brexit solution acted wilfully to prevent one.

A map to lead us all out of the impenetrable Brexit forest was handed to them on a plate. Instead of grabbing it, they turned their backs. Who knows how dangerous that could prove for our democracy? Make no mistake, the people are not merely frustrated by the cynicism and incompetence of our political class. They are downright furious.

Just four days ago they had reason to hope. Boris Johnson left Brussels on a tide of optimism with a new Brexit deal in his pocket and the congratulations of European leaders ringing in his ears. That optimism has now turned to uncomprehending despair up and down the country after the Remain alliance spurned him and voted for yet more obfuscation and delay.

The amendment they used was a typical piece of constitutional chicanery, proposed by eccentric former Tory MP Sir Oliver Letwin and allowed by Brexit-loathing Speaker John Bercow.

Its thrust was that the Commons couldn’t vote for the deal now because there was still a threat of No Deal (albeit negligible).

In truth, they wouldn’t have voted for any deal – however good for the country. And that is the point of this whole charade.

The overwhelming majority of these selfregarding wreckers are not just against the Johnson agreement, they are against Brexit in any form – and are determined to scupper it.

They claim to respect the referendum result but actually they hold it in contempt. They want a second vote, but only if it delivers a Remain result. Have they any idea how their cynical games have corroded the reputation of our democratic system? It has become a sick joke.

A general election could repair it. But because of the wretched Fixed-Term Parliaments Act and the craven cowardice of the Opposition that avenue is denied us.

As our recent poll showed, the public is crying out for an end to this Brexit nightmare. The Johnson deal provides an elegant solution.

It honours the referendum result by taking back control of our laws, borders and trade. At the same time, it ensures a close relationship with our neighbours pending a full free-trade agreement. Labour MPs, two-thirds of whom represent Leave-voting constituencies, should be right behind it. But, with a few honourable exceptions, they can’t see past their blind prejudice against both Brexit and the Tory Government.

After another spectacular U-turn, Labour is now conspiring with other parties to force a second referendum. Beyond parody, Jeremy Corbyn said on Saturday: ‘We are not prepared to sell out the communities we represent.’

By flouting Labour’s manifesto pledge, that’s precisely what he’s doing.

This week, Mr Johnson will try for another vote on his Withdrawal Agreement Bill. The Tory whips believe that despite the Letwin amendment, they can build a majority and get Brexit done.

The first hurdle is Speaker Bercow, who must allow the Bill to be tabled again. He has made a habit of thwarting Government plans. Let’s hope this time he does the right thing.

Things look bleak, but all is not lost. There are still ten days to the Brexit deadline.

Brussels wants this deal, business wants it, the British people want it, even sensible Unionists in Ulster want it.

To Mr Bercow and to all MPs, we say: Put prejudice aside. Let your country move on. Back the deal.