BREXIT BLOCKER
Tory rebel Dominic Grieve launches bid to stop Boris Johnson suspending Parliament to force through No Deal exit
TORY rebel Dominic Grieve last night launched a dramatic bid to stop Boris Johnson suspending Parliament to force through a No Deal.
The former Attorney General will try to force a Commons vote on an amendment to legislation on Northern Ireland, which is designed to stop a future PM ‘proroguing’ — or dissolving the House.
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He told The Sun he believed he had the numbers to defeat the Government.
Lib Dem anti-Brexit spokesman Tom Brake revealed he had also tabled two separate amendments to stop Parliament being prorogued.
Sources claimed Tory MPs may be given a “free vote” on the push — rather than being told to oppose the amendments. The suggestion incensed Brexit backers.
Under Mr Grieve’s plans, a future PM would be forced to report back to the Commons every two weeks from September to provide an update on efforts to resolve the deadlock on power sharing in Northern Ireland.
If a future PM does find a way to suspend Parliament, he would have to recall it to provide the update. Mr Grieve said: “It’s a belt and braces approach.”
'GUERILLA WAR' BY ANT-BREXIT MPS
He already has the support of other Tories including ex-Education Secretary Justine Greening and former minister Sam Gyimah and Philip Lee.
Speaker John Bercow will have to call the amendment in a debate tonight to trigger a vote.
Former Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon accused the plotters of “bluster”.
But ex-Tory Nick Boles predicted a sizeable number of Tories would back the rebel plan. He told The Sun: “You can be a Tory who doesn’t want to bring down your own government.
“You may even be one who doesn’t want to force the PM into signing an extension to avoid a No Deal.
“But surely you must want Parliament to be in session so any deal goes before the Commons rather than being sent to Coventry?”
Lib Dem Tom Brake is also hoping to piggyback the legislation to block a No Deal. Under his amendment the Government of the day would have to guarantee an open border in Ireland in the event of leaving without a deal.
The Government’s legislation is designed to allow the Northern Ireland Office to extend its legal power to delay a fresh Assembly election in the province.
Critically, it would push back Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley’s obligation to call a poll until October 21. She wants to give both unionist and Sinn Fein politicians “more time and space” to reach a deal.
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Mr Grieve’s move is the latest in what is expected to be a ‘guerilla war’ by anti-Brexit MPs to amend legislation in the Commons.
Last week pro-Remain MPs drew up plans to cut off the Government’s money supply if the PM tried to take Britain out of the EU without a deal.
The amendment wasn’t selected by the Speaker – amid claims Labour were not willing to back the plot.
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Boris Johnson says 'no more defeatism' and warns Brexit must not be treated like a 'plague of boils'
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