‘The idea we can overrule the people is preposterous’
Tory MP’S defection to the Lib Dems heralds day of raucous drama and impassioned speeches as stalemate propels the country towards a general election
IF THE 15 Tory rebels who headed to 10 Downing Street were hoping that Boris Johnson and his team would “love bomb” them with entreaties not to vote against the Government, they were sorely mistaken.
“I don’t know who any of you are!” Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnson’s chief adviser, yelled at some.
The former head of the Vote Leave campaign – wearing his trademark crumpled white shirt – continued to hector the smartly dressed MPS in this way for a “considerable period of time”.
Mr Cummings should have been able to pick out a few of them including former Cabinet ministers Greg Clark, Philip Hammond, David Gauke as well as ex-junior ministers Margot James, Anne Milton and Stephen Hammond.
They were meeting Mr Johnson after he cancelled an earlier get together on Monday – citing diary commitments – and had ordered his whips to expel any of them who voted with Labour to stop a no-deal Brexit.
The mood did not improve inside the Cabinet Room when – sat around the coffin-shaped table – Mr Johnson clashed with Mr Hammond, who had warmed up by telling that morning’s Today programme on Radio 4 that he was prepared to “put the national interest first” by voting against no-deal.
Mr Hammond insisted: “We are handing over power to Parliament.” That prompted Mr Johnson to hit back: “You are handing power over to a junta that includes Jeremy Corbyn.”
The rebels were unimpressed. One source said Mr Johnson “gave an unconvincing explanation of how a deal could be ratified, legally drafted and legislated in the very short time frame when Parliament is not prorogued”.
The source said Mr Johnson could not give a “reasonable answer” as to why the Government had not provided the European Union with its alternative proposals to the Irish backstop.
Throughout the day, an apparent purge of the party’s Remain-supporting MPS was gathering pace as a succession of them – led by Justine Greening, another former Cabinet minster, and Alistair Burt, ex-foreign Office minister – said they were quitting at the next election.
All this was an appetiser, for the first in a series of seismic events occurred at 3.30pm, just as Mr Johnson rose at the Dispatch Box, ostensibly to give MPS an update on last weekend’s G7 meeting.
With little fanfare, Conservative MP Phillip Lee, a former health minister, arrived and took his seat next to Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader. But it was hugely significant: the Conservative Government had lost its working majority of one in the Commons.
Mr Johnson, midway through his G7 update, looked up and said: “I wish my honourable friend all the best.” Dr Lee’s resignation letter was only delivered to Mr Johnson’s office in Westminster at the same time as he crossed the floor. In it, Dr Lee complained how the Tory party was now “increasingly become infected with the twin diseases of populism and English nationalism”.
The import of the defection was not lost on European Union officials who were watching closely in Brussels. One EU diplomat told The Daily Telegraph: “Now he has lost his majority it seems futile to continue discussions. We can’t be sure that whatever were to come out of it will ever translate into reality.”
In the chamber, Mr Johnson, flanked by Brexiteer Cabinet ministers Dominic Raab and Andrea Leadsom, put on a brave face, warning MPS that “there is no point in beginning formal talks as long as there is a risk that Parliament will make that impossible”.
Ken Clarke – who was siting next to Theresa May – accused Mr Johnson of plotting to fight a hasty election before the consequences.
The Prime Minister replied: “I don’t want an election, we don’t want an election, I don’t think [Mr Corbyn] wants an election….”
Mr Hammond demanded that Mr Johnson publish the UK’S new Brexit proposals that afternoon to help Tory backbenchers decide whether to side with Mr Corbyn.
Watching on was the elusive Mr Cummings, who Mr Hammond had
earlier claimed was not actually a member of the Conservative party.
Mr Cummings ducked the question when he attended a press briefing given by No10 officials, telling reporters: “You guys speak to those guys. I am just watching how this works.”
Last night, before the vote, Mr Cummings was spotted walking around the parliamentary press gallery clutching a glass of red wine, speaking bullishly to reporters about calling an election.
No10 insisted that Mr Johnson was still Prime Minister despite losing his majority. A spokesman reiterated the whips’ warning that any Tory MP who voted against or failed to support the Government would be expelled. Mr Johnson would also table a motion calling for an election if he lost.
Opposition MPS crammed on the Labour, SNP and Liberal Democrat benches burst into applause. The Tory benches were sparsely attended.
John Bercow, the Speaker, called Sir Oliver Letwin to make his application to allow MPS to take over proceedings and to discuss “whether it can accept a no-deal exit”.
Jacob Rees-mogg, the Leader of the House of Commons, criticised Mr Bercow’s decision saying: “Usurping the executive’s right is unconstitutional, the use of emergency debates to do so is unconstitutional and the Bill itself is yet more unconstitutional.”
Then he took the fight to Sir Oliver, accusing him of “stunning arrogance” and of failing “to understand where sovereignty comes from”.
He added: “Sovereignty in this House comes from the British people and the idea that we can overrule 17.4 million people is preposterous, and the idea that our rules do not exist to protect the people from arrogant power grabs is mistaken. Those rules are there for the protection of the people.”
The battle for Brexit was finally reaching the endgame.
As many as 21 Tory MPS had rebelled. One told The Telegraph that the speech by Mr Rees-mogg had acted like “a great recruiting sergeant”.
The House was in ferment. Amid the din, Mr Bercow then clashed with Michael Gove, the “no-deal” Cabinet minister, saying that “when he turns up at our children’s school as a parent he is a very well behaved fellow. He wouldn’t dare behave like that and neither would I.
“Don’t gesticulate, don’t rant, spare the theatrics. Behave yourself! Be a good boy, young man, be a good boy.”
Mr Johnson returned to his feet to announce the Government was tabling legislation for a snap general election – although Mr Corbyn countered that Labour would not support it unless the Government blocked a no-deal exit.
With reaction to the result still ringing in his ears, Mr Johnson could hear one voice raised above all others: “Not a good start, Boris!”
My job is ‘to facilitate the House of Commons, the legislature. I have done it, I will do it to the best of my ability, without fear or favour, come what may, do or die’