Defiant Boris Johnson would refuse to quit if he lost no-confidence vote in bid to force through Brexit
BORIS Johnson would REFUSE to quit if he lost a no-confidence vote in a desperate bid to force through Brexit.
The determined Prime Minister has plans to ignore any potential challenge by Tory rebels and Remainer MPs before October 31.
It comes after Jeremy Corbyn said Labour will pass a no-confidence motion "at a point when we can win it” but that it would be at an “appropriate time”.
The earliest a no-confidence vote could be held is September 4, the day after summer recess ends.
If no viable alternative can be found after 14 days, a general election is triggered – although Mr Johnson would still get to set the date and could therefore hold the poll after taking the UK out of the EU on October 31.
DEFIANT BORIS
It means the PM's defiance over a no confidence vote could cause a constitutional crisis and even see the Queen “dragged” into matters.
Catherine Haddon, a senior fellow at the Institute for Government think tank, said that under the Fixed term Parliament Act, Boris is under no obligation to resign.
She told : “The onus is on the incumbent prime minister — they get to choose whether they resign.
“If they do not it is hard for a new government to be formed without dragging the Queen into politics.”
QUEEN DRAGGED IN
If BoJo lost a no confidence motion in the Commons there would be a 14-day period where the government – or a new one formed in that short space of time – must persuade MPs to pass a fresh vote of confidence.
If not, a general election would take place 25 days after the original government was dissolved.
But a resigning PM who accepts a new administration must notify the Queen, who then appoints the new leader on his or her "recommendation".
If Boris refuses to resign, the Queen may be called to get involved in the matter.
The PM has cut a resolute figure since taking office - refusing to bend to the will of Brussels or pressure from Tory rebels.
'DO OR DIE'
He has vowed to take us out of the EU "do or die" by the Halloween Brexit deadline and has repeated his pledge to ditch Theresa May's hated deal and the Irish backstop.
EU chiefs have finally accepted that Boris is not a walkover and preparations have begun for a no deal scenario.
A vote of no confidence is seen by Remainer MPs as one of their last chances to block a no-deal Brexit.
But Johnson’s allies yesterday warned they had no chance of standing in the way.
Downing Street told them they could not pick and choose the votes they respected.
And in a U-turn, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Parliament could no longer block No Deal.
He added: “The parliamentary arithmetic did not play out as I anticipated.”
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Meanwhile the PM's Brexit guru Dominic Cummings is working a ‘People vs Politicians’ election strategy while his cabinet are concentrating on flooding the press with positive policy announcements.
Ministers have revealed there is a focus on “getting stuff out the door” by bringing announcements forward - in case of a general election later this year.
Among BoJo's ambitious pledges is a £1.8bn cash injection into the NHS with 20 hospitals earmarked for funding.
VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE
Remainer MPs see a vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson as their last chance to block Brexit - but what does it mean?
- A vote of no confidence is an opportunity for MPs to decide whether they want a government to continue.
- Any MP could propose a motion but that does not mean a debate on the matter would take place.
- Only if the leader of the opposition, in this case Jeremy Corbyn, introduces the motion would there would be a debate.
- If Boris Johnson lost, there would be a 14-day period where the government – or a new one formed in that short space of time – must persuade MPs to pass a fresh vote of confidence in them.
- If the government fails to get a confidence motion, a general election would take place 25 days after the original administration was dissolved.
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