Remainers plot to force Johnson to request delay

REMAIN supporters have hatched a plan to ensure Boris Johnson will be forced to ask for a Brexit extension even if his deal passes in the Commons today.

Sir Oliver Letwin, the former Tory minister, has tabled an amendment to the Brexit deal that would require the Prime Minister to request an extension as an “insurance policy” to prevent the UK “crashing out” of the EU if the necessary legislation to enact the deal is not passed by Oct 31.

Under the so-called Benn Act, Mr Johnson is already required to request an extension from Brussels if his deal fails, in order to stop a no-deal Brexit at the end of the month.

But the Letwin amendment – which will be backed by Labour – would give MPS a second chance to stop no deal in the event that MPS back the agreement reached with the EU this week.

Sir Oliver’s amendment, which is seconded by Liberal Democrat leader and Remainer Jo Swinson, says: “This House has considered the matter but withholds approval unless and until implementing legislation is passed.”

Sir Oliver insisted last night that if the amendment were passed it would require the Prime Minister to send a letter asking for a delay under the Benn Act. He said it would also allow the vote on Mr Johnson’s deal to go ahead, giving MPS a chance to approve it and trigger the introduction of the legislation to implement the deal on Monday.

However, there were fears that if the amendment were passed it could mean that the vote on Mr Johnson’s deal was called off altogether, putting the new treaty in jeopardy.

The Government fears that if the Letwin amendment passes it will encourage Remainers to table amendments to Brexit legislation next week calling for a second referendum.

Sir Oliver, who said he supported

Boris Johnson’s “excellent deal”, told The Telegraph he was positive there was a lot of support for his amendment, whose authors, among others, include Hilary Benn, Labour chairman of the Brexit Select Committee.

Sir Oliver said he tabled the amendment as someone who “voted three times for Theresa May’s deal, who has guaranteed publicly to vote for any deal that provides for an orderly exit, and who will vote for Boris’s excellent deal at all stages through to Third Reading of the implementing legislation, without any changes whatsoever”.

“My aim is to ensure that Boris’s deal succeeds, but that we have an insurance policy which prevents the UK from crashing out on 31 October by mistake.”