Their demand is not without precedent. The House of Commons has been recalled on 29 occasions since
- The most recent being during the EU referendum campaign to pay tribute to the murdered MP Jo
Cox. Other issues MPs have been ordered back to Westminster over in recent times include a debate over
the use of chemical weapons in 2014, and the riots in London and other English cities in 2011.
But in order for parliament to be recalled, the Commons speaker, John Bercow, must receive a formal
request from the government. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Downing Street dismissed the demand yesterday.
“The House of Commons agreed the date it would rise for summer recess, as well as its return on 3
September and this was passed by a majority of close to 200 MPs,” the prime minister’s spokesperson told
journalists.
But the signatories of the recall letter are becoming increasingly concerned with the rhetoric and actions of
the new administration. The PM has himself played down the possibility of a deal being reached with the
EU. Meanwhile, his chief adviser in Downing Street, Dominic Cummings, has privately threatened that Mr
Johnson could still deliver a no-deal Brexit even if he loses a vote of confidence and a general election is
forced.
Despite not having the power to recall parliament themselves, MPs are conscious of the fact that time is
running out, and they now have to be seen exploring every possible avenue to stop a no-deal exit from the
EU.