- The Observer
4 25.08.19 News
Johnson probes
legality of closing
down parliament
be possible, unless action being taken
in the courts to block such a move by
anti-Brexit campaigners succeeds in
the meantime.
Last night Labour and pro-Remain
Tory MPs reacted furiously, saying
that the closure of parliament, as a
method for stopping MPs prevent-
ing a potentially disastrous no-deal
Brexit, would be an affront to democ-
racy and deeply irresponsible, partic-
ularly given the government’s own
acceptance of the economic turmoil
no-deal could cause.
Shadow Brexit secretary Keir
Starmer said: “Any plan to suspend
parliament at this stage would be out-
rageous. MPs must take the earliest
opportunity to thwart this plan and
to stop a no-deal Brexit.”
The prominent Tory remainer and
former attorney general Dominic
Grieve added: “This memo, if cor-
rect, shows Boris Johnson’s contempt
for the House of Commons. It may
be possible to circumvent the clear
intention of the House of Commons
in this way but it shows total bad faith.
Excluding the house from a national
crisis that threatens the future of our
country is entirely wrong.”
Johnson has said he is “not
attracted” to the idea of proroguing
parliament and that he wants a Brexit
deal, but has repeatedly refused to
rule it out. After becoming prime
minister he immediately promoted
Dominic Raab, the fi rst senior Tory
to propose the idea of shutting par-
liament to get Brexit through, to the
post of foreign secretary.
The email shows that the feasibil-
ity of a fi ve-week parliamentary shut-
down is under active consideration,
from soon after the date on which
parliament returns on 3 September,
until the eve of the last EU summit
before Brexit, on 17 and 18 October,
when it will be too late for MPs to
block no deal. The revelation will also
anger EU leaders as Johnson makes
his international summit debut at the
G7 in Biarritz this weekend.
Johnson will meet US president
Donald Trump for talks today , with
Brexit and international trade high
on the agenda. He will also meet EU
council president Donald Tusk who
said yesterday that he would not
cooperate with Johnson on a no-deal
Brexit, but rather wanted to fi nd a way
forward with him to secure a deal on
issues including the Irish backstop.
Tusk said as G7 leaders gathered
that he was “willing to listen to ideas
that are operational, realistic and
acceptable to all EU member states,
including Ireland, if and when the UK
government is ready. ”
Pro-Remain MPs have spent the
summer recess planning how to block
a no-deal outcome and, if necessary,
force an extension to the Brexit dead-
line beyond 31 October, when parlia-
ment returns on 3 September.Among the options being consid-
ered are taking control of Commons
business for enough time to pass
legislation that would mandate
the prime minister to seek another
extension.
An alternative backed by some
Remainers is to amend Brexit-related
legislation to force an extension.
EU leaders will be closely mon-
itoring the clashes in parliament in
September. Brussels sources say the
bloc is reluctant to make fresh con-
cessions before MPs have had an
opportunity to tie Johnson’s hands
by seeking to block no deal.
The leaked email will fuel spec-
ulation that Johnson is prepared to
make the delivery of a “deal or no
deal” Brexit an issue of parliament
versus the people. The email exam-
ines whether the prime minister
could thwart MPs’ plans by shutting
parliament until a Queen’s speech
would herald a new parliament on
14 October.
A government source said there
was a defi nite and clear plan to pro-
rogue parliament being hatched byJohnson’s closest advisers.
In particular the memo examines
whether Johnson could circumvent
a previous amendment, championed
by Grieve, that was inserted into a
bill relating to the Northern Ireland
Assembly earlier this summer. It
requires ministers to report regularly
to parliament on progress in restor-
ing the Stormont Assembly. The email
suggests the Grieve amendment does
not necessarily prevent the prime
minister activating the prorogation
plan.
The news will add greater urgency
to talks that will take place on Tuesday
between Jeremy Corbyn and cross-
party MPs on how to prevent no-deal.
Corbyn has said he will call a confi -
dence motion in the government
when parliament returns, and if suc-
cessful, would seek to become prime
minister for an interim period before
calling a general election.
A government source did not deny
that legal advice had been sought.
They added: “As a matter of routine,
No 10 offi cials ask for legal and policy
advice every day.”Britons fl ocked to the beach in
Bournemouth to soak up the 26C
sunshine yesterday before what
is predicted to be the hottest bank
holiday on record. Temperatures
are expected to hit a sweltering
33C tomorrow for the last day of
the Notting Hill carnival.
PASnapshot
Sources said
attorney general
Geoffrey Cox’s
legal advice had
been sought
‘as a matter of
routine’.ON OTHER PAGESFinancial power can save Amazon
Observer Comment, page 44A diplomatic tightrope in Biarritz
Focus, pages 36-Continued from page 4