Boris Johnson faces fresh Brexit court battle after telling Brussels to IGNORE his extension letter
BORIS Johnson faces a fresh Brexit court battle this week after sending a letter asking Brussels to back the deal - but sending another one telling them to ignore it.
After MPs votes by 322 to 306 yesterday to withhold approval of his Brexit deal until later on, the PM was forced to write to EU leaders requesting a third delay to our exit.
He did not put his signature at the bottom of the first letter - a photocopy of the call by MPs to delay withdrawal from the bloc.
And he sent another two letters to Brussels bosses telling them he didn't think an extension would help, and he was forced to seek it.
Mr Johnson added: "Regrettably, Parliament missed the opportunity to inject momentum into the ratification process for the new Withdrawal Agreement.
"Although I would have preferred a different result today, the Government will press ahead with ratification and introduce the necessary legislation early next week.
"I remain confident that we will complete that process by 31 October."
Other letters sent to MPs said "delay is not a solution" and he did not want an extension.
But campaigners have claimed his defiant three-letter stance does not meet the letter of the law which forced him to do it.
MPs and lawyers said he was deliberately trying to dodge it.
No10 sources said they expected to go back to court this week over it.
Labour's John McDonnell said this morning: "He may be in contempt of Parliament or the courts.
"A number of lawyers have already commented that he is seeking to undermine a decision of Parliament and therefore it flies in the face of both Parliament and the court's decisions."
Joanna Cherry MP, who was involved in the Supreme Court case over the PM's shutting down of Parliament, said yesterday: "This is pathetic.
"Boris Johnson promised the Scottish court he would comply with the Benn Act and not seek to frustrate it.
"Looks like he's breaking both promises.
"Fortunately no need to raise new proceedings, our existing case is back in court on Monday."
Their case would have forced the PM to write the letter had he not done so last night.
MP David Lammy said he was "breaking the rule of law".
A former Tory Cabinet minister said the PM was behaving in a way that was "against the spirit of the Benn Act."
They told The Observer: "I think this will end up in the court again."
MP Ed Davey added: "Multiple letters, implicit contradictions, denying the spirit of the law parliament passed, if not simply flouting it. #Johnson: see you in court #UnfitForOffice."
However, others argued that he had obeyed the letter of the law and would confidently win such a case.
Boris has repeatedly insisted he won't ask the EU for another delay - and yesterday's letter made it clear that it was Parliament not him who was asking for one.
Mr Tusk confirmed he received the extension request from Mr Johnson.
He said on Twitter yesterday: "The extension request has just arrived. I will now start consulting EU leaders on how to react."
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Last month Boris lost a crucial court battle over his plans to shut down Parliament.
In a huge blow for the PM, the Supreme Court ruled his actions as unlawful as he was trying to prorogue Parliament for a longer time than usual but with no reason for it.
Parliament was re-opened and MPs went back to Westminster the next day.
What happens next?
TODAY
EU ambassadors met today but did not discuss a Brexit extension. Leaders will "consider" another delay to our EU exit after Boris had had a chance to get his deal through.
Boris has said he will not enter negotiations about this - which could mean he will refuse to discuss it, or refuse to attend an emergency session of EU leaders to sign it off.
Essentially he will frustrate the process by refusing to engage with it, and in the meantime will try and push through his Brexit plans regardless.
NEXT WEEK:
Government brings back the Withdrawal Agreement Bill to try and push it through the Commons anyway.
They want to hold a "meaningful vote" tomorrow.
Several votes on Boris deal are set to happen as part of the process.
MPs will likely try and wreck it with amendments and changes to the bills, which could bog the process down and delay it further.
OCTOBER 31
Britain leaves the EU?
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