Blair and Brown warn future PM of no-deal peril

FORMER prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown have issued a warning to the next occupant of Number 10 about the dangers of a no-deal Brexit.

Boris Johnson, widely expected to triumph in the Tory leadership contest and become prime minister tomorrow, has promised to leave the EU on October 31, even if it means a no-deal exit.

In separate interventions, the Labour ex-premiers warned that to break from Brussels without a deal could be “catastrophic” or see the British economy “pushed off a cliff”.

Writing in The Times, Mr Blair said another referendum was the best outcome for Mr Johnson.

“Even before he becomes prime minister this week, Boris Johnson has boxed himself in to a no-deal Brexit,” Mr Blair said.

“If he doesn’t back down from his stated negotiating position, he will fail.”

Mr Blair claimed the 2016 referendum gave the Government a mandate for Brexit, but not a no-deal scenario, and said “crashing out without public endorsement would be a gargantuan risk”.

“No-one knows with certainty the impact of no-deal for the simple reason that no developed nation has ever left overnight its preferential trading arrangements in this manner. It could be merely very difficult or it could be catastrophic.”

If Parliament voted against a no-deal Brexit, Mr Blair said he did not believe Mr Johnson would push on regardless – meaning a referendum or a general election would be required.

Neither Mr Johnson nor his leadership rival, Jeremy Hunt, have ruled out a no-deal Brexit if agreement cannot be reached with Brussels.

In his own warning, Mr Brown claimed polling suggested support for a no-deal Brexit was declining.

Mr Brown said: “Boris Johnson is becoming prime minister just as support for his October 31 no-deal policy is falling away. Already, away from Westminster, three million Brexit voters will not support a no-deal Brexit.

“Many more are ready to say ‘no’ to a no-deal and to seeing the British economy pushed off a cliff.”