Boris Johnson will throw No Deal Brexit rebels out of the Conservative Party within 48 hours
BORIS Johnson has declared all-out war against Tory Remainers by telling them they will be thrown out of the party as early as Tuesday night if they try to block a No Deal Brexit.
The PM has opted to threaten the ultimate sanction in an 11th hour bid to deter up to 22 Tory MPs from backing the so-called ‘Remainer Alliance’ bid to change the law this week.
He has deployed his whips to deliver the “very simple message” to Tory MPs on Monday that failing to vote with the Government on Tuesday will be “destroying the Government’s negotiating position and handing control of Parliament to Jeremy Corbyn”.
A senior source from the Whips' Office said on Sunday night: “Any Conservative MP who does this will have the whip withdrawn and will not stand as Conservative candidates in an election.”
Around 20 Tory Remainers remained defiant despite No10's threat to deselect them.
Gove food prices row
FOOD prices will be volatile after a No Deal Brexit, Michael Gove has warned.
But he said there would be “no shortages of fresh food”.
The Cabinet minister in charge of No Deal prep said some costs will go up for consumers but stressed that others “will go down”.
His claim that there won’t be any shortages sparked a row with retail chiefs.
The British Retail Consortium said it was “categorically untrue” to claim fresh food supplies would be unaffected.
It sparked fears of a formal split in the Tory party as early as this week, with many vowing to stand as independent candidates at the next election.
A spokesman for the rebel group said: "This is sheer hypocrisy. Almost a quarter of the current cabinet have voted against the party whip.
But this is about the national interest, and we've moved beyond the point where threats will persuade people to abandon their principles."
Commenting on the move by No10 to cancel today's meeting with Mr Johnson, the spokesman said: "Aside from being deeply discourteous, todays behaviour shows this is not a government interested in compromise.
"These MPs want proof that there is a genuine and sincere attempt to get a deal. The fact that the Prime Minister isn't even prepared to meet them suggests there isn't."
On Sunday night relations between No10 and Tory Remainers were in tatters after Mr Johnson pulled the plug on a meeting with Philip Hammond’s gang of 22 MPs that was scheduled for lunchtime Sunday in his Commons office.
Instead he invited Mr Hammond, the rebel ringleader, in for one-to-one talks but the ex-Chancellor snubbed the PM and blasted him for being “discourteous”.
Ahead of a crucial week that should decide whether Brexit will be delayed beyond October 31:
- Michael Gove refused to rule out the prospect of the PM breaking the law to force through a No Deal Brexit by ignoring fresh legislation requiring him to seek another Article 50 extension;
- Tony Blair warned Jeremy Corbyn to block any bid by Boris Johnson to call a snap election because it would only increase the chances of a No Deal Brexit;
- Panicked EU Brexit chief Michel Barnier has been lobbying EU leaders to back a tough new “stress test” to be applied to any new British proposal to replace the hated backstop amid fears that key players such as Angela Merkel are preparing to offer a compromise;
- The Government launched its biggest ever information campaign with ads advising the public on how to ‘Get Ready’ for Brexit;
- The Sun can reveal Philip Hammond is trying to rush through his reselection process to avoid getting thrown out of the party;
- Up to 20 Tory Remainers are considering forming their own breakaway party.
HARDLINE REMAINERS
Downing Street cancelled Sunday’s showdown talks with rebels after former Justice Secretary David Gauke said he would vote for the rebel bill to delay Brexit this week even if it meant losing the Tory whip.
His hardline stance was blamed for the PM’s decision to cancel the meeting.
Mr Gauke said: “Sometimes there is a point where you have to judge between your own personal interests and the national interest and the national interest has to come first.”
In another sign of the Government’s hardball approach, Michael Gove refused to rule out the Government breaking the law to force through a No Deal Brexit on October 31.
The key Cabinet Minister in charge of No Deal planning left open the prospect of Mr Johnson ignoring fresh legislation requiring him to seek another Brexit extension.
Asked if the PM would obey such a law, Mr Gove told the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday: “Let’s see what the legislation says.”
His comments sparked fresh outrage from Remainers, with Labour’s Brexit chief Sir Keir Starmer blasting: “For ministers not to confirm that this Government will accept and comply with legislation lawfully passed is breathtaking. The Prime Minister must make a statement on this straightaway. No Government is above the law.”
Port delay warning
LORRIES and cars face up to two-day delays at Dover in a No Deal, Government documents revealed last night.
According to a Department for Transport report, the “best case no deal scenario” would see vehicles waiting for up to eight hours at Britain’s busiest port.
But “Day One” could see delays of up to two days.
Analysis shows there could be queues of up to 8,000 vehicles and cancellations of goods orders due to chaos at customs posts.
HARDBALL BORIS
Boris Johnson made the decision to effectively sack Tory MPs who rebel this week over Sunday lunch with Tory whips at his Chequers country estate.
They plotted the hardball tactics as they munched on spiced lamb served with potatoes and vegetables and a plum tart and custard dessert.
On Sunday night a senior source from the Whips' Office said: “There is a chance of a deal on October 17 only because Brussels realises the Prime Minister is totally committed 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.”
Meanwhile The Sun can reveal that Philip Hammond is trying to rush through the process of being re-selected as a Tory MP before he gets kicked out for rebelling against a No Deal Brexit.
REBEL DE-SELECTION
All Tories must get formally re-nominated by their local party association in a process the MP alone can trigger.
Mr Hammond is sending his application in early because he wants to get on the front foot amid attempts by local members to de-select him.
He is expected to write to his association chiefs this week to ask to be re-nominated.
THE SUN SAYS
THE rank dishonesty of Tory Remainers is laid bare as the bloodiest political week of modern times begins.
Philip Hammond and his suicide squad say Boris Johnson must set out a clear plan for a new EU deal, or they will defeat the Government, make No Deal “illegal” and trigger election mayhem.
But any idiot knows “stopping No Deal” destroys all incentive for Brussels to negotiate. So this is not some noble Remainer mission to protect jobs. It’s an excuse to halt Brexit, enforce another referendum or just revoke our decision.
Besides, the only deal Hammond and his pals want is one that, like Theresa May’s, would bind us to the EU forever. Every Tory MP faces a stark choice.
Merkel and Macron will only negotiate seriously over this next crucial month if we will otherwise leave with No Deal on October 31.
Removing that option will trigger a chain of seismic events probably costing scores of Tory seats and resulting in a Marxist Government. Tory rebels will rightly be fired.
Even allowing for Brexit derangement, it is mind-boggling that any of them still think this hissy-fit is worth it.
If they refuse, then it goes down to a vote of all local Tory members.
Mr Hammond confirmed to The Sun that he was beginning the reselection process.
He said: “Yes I will be doing that.”
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