Daily Express Monday, September 2, 2019 5
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sacked: Rebels told
and deliver Brexit
democratic voice of the public
from being heard on Brexit.
“We have to fight this battle
in the same way.
“If that means breaking the
precedent of not standing
against the Speaker in his
constituency at the
next General
Election, then so
be it.”
Speaker to stand for re-election
to the Commons without rival
candidates from the main
parties contesting his seat.
He called on Tory chairman
James Cleverly to persuade
Buckingham Conservative
Association to field an official
candidate against Mr Bercow.
Mr Davies said: “Remain-
supporting MPs – including
Mr Bercow – are using every trick
in the book and tearing up all
precedence to try to prevent the
New fight to oust ‘biased’ speaker Bercow
LOYALIST Tory MPs yesterday
threatened to stage a new attempt
to topple Commons Speaker John
Bercow after accusing him of
Brexit bias.
He has denounced Boris
Johnson’s move to cut short the
current parliamentary session as a
“constitutional outrage” and held
talks with leading pro-Brussels
Tory rebel Sir Oliver Letwin.
Tory MP David Davies
yesterday demanded an end to
convention that allows the
John Bercow faces
challenge from MPs
What’s in
store now
for Boris?
ANYTHING is possible in Parliament this
week. It is going to see some of the tightest
votes, the tensest stand-offs between MPs
and the Government, and the most
unpredictable decisions.
Politicians haven’t coped particularly
well with the uncertainty of the past three
years, and neither side is likely to cover
itself in glory this week as MPs opposed to
a no-deal try to stop Boris Johnson from
getting his way. Here’s a guide to what
might happen in the next few days:
- Emergency debate: MPs are back in the
House of Commons tomorrow and they’re
planning to get straight to work with an
emergency debate.
Normally, these have a neutral motion
for MPs to vote on, but Remainers hope
that Speaker Bercow will allow the House
to vote on
whether they
should take
control of the
parliamentary
timetable.
Then they can
introduce their
own legislation
which would
force Mr Johnson
to extend the
Brexit deadline
and block a
no-deal exit on
October 31. The PM could table a motion
calling a general election at any stage,
however, daring Jeremy Corbyn to oppose
something he’s claimed he is desperate for.
This would kill the Bill and mean Britain
would leave the EU without a deal.
Peers could also talk the Bill out, as it has
to receive Royal Assent by Monday. - Vote of no confidence: Jeremy Corbyn
has pursued this option doggedly, despite
other parties insisting that they don’t want
to put him in Downing Street.
Now, MPs are starting to realise they
have just days left to stop a no-deal Brexit
and cannot afford to be picky.
If the Commons does vote no confidence
in the Government, it has 14 days to find
an alternative. - The courts: This week there is a
preliminary hearing for the case brought by
anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller, who
now has the support of Sir John Major.
She is seeking a judicial review of the
prorogation of Parliament but if she
succeeds, her political allies may find they
are accused of blocking democracy. - Humble address: Dominic Grieve and
opposition MPs are drawing up a motion to
express their unhappiness with Parliament
being prorogued. They plan to appeal to the
Queen to stop it, or force the publication of
the Government’s no-deal preparations.
This is probably the least likely scenario
but the most explosive, as it would drag the
Queen into politics.
Sir John Major
Picture: JEFF OVERS/BBC
Keir told the BBC it would be “unlawful”
for Mr Johnson to take Britain out of the
EU without a deal.
But Mr Gove, refused to rule out the
Government ignoring a Commons vote on
the Bill. Speaking on The Andrew Marr
Show yesterday, he said: “Let’s see what
the legislation says.
“You’re asking me about a pig in a poke.
And I will wait to see what legislation the
opposition may try to bring forward.”
Conservative Party chairman James
Cleverly said Labour would “try anything”
to get the referendum result cancelled.
OPINION: PAGE 12
Speaker John Bercow – who met leading
Tory plotter Sir Oliver Letwin last week –
will allow parliamentary time for them to
try and change the law.
MPs are braced for angry debates over
the coming days, with expectations that sit-
ting sessions could go into the early hours
and possibly be held over the weekend.
Mr Corbyn has also indicated he could
trigger a motion of no-confidence in the
Government later this week to try and
topple Mr Johnson.
Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir
Starmer yesterday confirmed Labour
intended to table a “simple” parliamentary
bill designed to outlaw a no-deal Brexit. Sir
not stand as Conservative candidate in
an election. There is a chance of a deal on
October 17 [when the European Council is
next due to meet] only because Brussels
realises the Prime Minister is totally com-
mitted to leaving on October 31.
“All MPs face a simple choice on Tuesday
- to vote with the Government and
preserve the chance of a deal or vote with
Corbyn and destroy any chance of a deal.”
In a bellicose speech today, Mr Corbyn is
expected to step up his threat to scupper a
no-deal Brexit by claiming he is doing
“everything necessary to pull our country
back from the brink”.
Anti-Brexit MPs are hoping Commons
By Macer Hall
ANALYSIS
ISABEL HARDMAN
The Spectator assistant editor
X1ST
no-deal Brexit
contingency planning,
yesterday said the
campaign could help the
country “come together”.
He said: “Ensuring an
orderly Brexit is not only
a matter of national
importance, but a shared
responsibility.
“This campaign will
encourage the country to
come together to get
ready for Brexit.”
The campaign advises
businesses on exporting
to the EU after Brexit
and shows firms how to
obtain the correct
documents to transport
goods at the border and
apply for support.
Mr Gove also
dismissed warnings
of food shortages after
a no-deal Brexit.
He added: “Everyone
will have the food they
need. There will be no
shortages.”
Michael Gove
lays out his
plans on
BBC’s
Andrew Marr
Show
yesterday
£140m advert blitz to
prepare for our exit
CABINET minister
Michael Gove yesterday
launched a Government
publicity blitz urging the
country to “get ready for
Brexit”.
The £140million
information campaign,
the biggest ever
launched by Whitehall,
will advise households
and businesses on
measures needed to be
ready for Britain’s
departure from the EU
on October 31.
Posters with the “Get
Ready” slogan are being
placed on billboards
around Britain, advising
people to prepare for the
break with Brussels by
checking official
information on the
official gov.uk/brexit
web page.
A string of adverts on
TV, radio, social media
and in newspapers will
also begin this week.
Mr Gove, the Cabinet
minister in charge of