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The highest civil court in Scotland is preparing to hear arguments over whetherBoris Johnsoncan be forced to extend Article 50 to avoid leaving the EU without a deal.
The so-calledBenn Act, which passed last month , requires the Government to seek an extension if an agreement isn’t reached by Halloween, but opponents are suspicious the Prime Minister will try to thwart legislation to fulfillil his vow to leave on October 31 “do or die”
The hearing, which could decide that fines or even a prison sentence could be imposed, comes as theEuropean Councilsaid the EU is “open but not convinced” by new proposals for a Brexit deal.
It came as Rory Stewart, a former Tory leadership contender,announced that he was standing downat the next general election and quitting the Conservative Party.
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Labor MP Harriet Harman has wished Mr Stewart the best for the future.
Former Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson tweeted to say the Tory party “should have room for talented, experienced and committed people”.
Responding to Mr Stewart’s announcement, former Tory MP Nick Boles, who resigned from the Conservatives earlier this year, tweeted: “Last rites are being read for moderate One Nation conservatism.”
Read more about Rory Stewart’s announcement here:
Fellow Tory MPs are reacting to the news of Rory Stewart’s resignation.
Amber Rudd said he was “an outstanding MP and minister”.
Former Tory leadership candidate Rory Stewart has said he will be standing down at the next general election and has resigned from the Conservative Party.
Mr Stewart tweeted: “It’s been a great privilege to serve Penrith and The Border for the last ten years, so it is with sadness that I am announcing that I will be standing down at the next election, and that I have also resigned from the Conservative Party. ”
Boris Johnson has shared a video on Twitter, saying “let’s take the first step” and “get Brexit done”.
In the video, he said: “The first step is the hardest, the challenge of what comes next. But the opportunities that come from stepping into the world make it worth it. No matter how big or small, the first step means something.
“Throughout the history of our country, the people who have taken bold steps are the ones who have taken Britain forward. The innovators, the entrepreneurs, the leaders.
“Now Britain is taking an ambitious leap into a brighter future.”
Asked if the Government is willing to enter into negotiations, he added: “From our point of view, this is the final deal, but we’ll wait and see what our partners in the EU come back and say. ”
He said it is“ clear ”there is now a“ building majority ”supportive of
Speaking about Mr Johnson’s Brexit proposals, Home Office Security Minister Brandon Lewis told the Today program: “From our point of view it’s a final offer.
“But we are open and understand the fact that the EU may come back and say ‘Look, this deal is fine, but can we just look at this…? ‘and we’ll have to look at that when we get to that point.
“But I’ve got to say, to be frank, as the Prime Minister said, this is our clear final deal.
“We think it’s a good deal, it’s a fair deal, it delivers both legally and security -wise for both our country here in the UK and obviously our friends in Europe. ”
Lord Hain told Today: “The other joker in this pack is effectively leaving the DUP with a veto.
“Whether the arrangements get up and running at all for a common regulatory trading zone for all goods and agri-food, livestock and food produce and so forth, whether that actually happens is up to the DUP.
“And that cannot be right. It should be the decision of the whole of Northern Ireland’s politics on a cross-community basis which is the essence of the Good Friday Agreement. ”
Lord Hain told Today: “Two thirds of Conservative members and apparently two thirds of Leave voters, according to the polls, don’t mind if there’s a hard border, unless they get Brexit.
“But that is a reckless and irresponsible attitude, because the island of Ireland has been responsible for some of the most terrible terror, not just on its island but also visiting Great Britain.
“This is a very dangerous situation. And I sometimes think in the way that the Conservative Government – I’m not making a party point, I’m making a fundamental point about understanding, and Sir John Major, the former prime minister, has made a similar point – it hasn ‘ t seen itself as an honest broker here.
“It’s seen itself as captured to one particular party.”
Former Northern Ireland secretary Lord Hain has told the Today program he did not find Dublin’s response to Boris Johnson’s Brexit proposals surprising.
“Because effectively what Boris Johnson’s proposal is doing is dumping the problem on Dublin. It’s saying ‘We won’t put up a hard border infrastructure on the UK side of the Irish border, but you do your worst’.
“And the Irish Government will have no choice if the proposal is somehow accepted, or certainly if no deal falls out.
“It’ll have no choice but to put up infrastructure for security and checks because it’s the external border of the European Union and World Trade Organization rules, international trading rules, the legal situation will require them to do it. ”
Donald Tusk yesterday warned Boris Johnson the EU is “still unconvinced” by his new Brexit proposals while telling Ireland “we stand fully behind you”.
The EU Council president’s comments were made on two separate phone calls with Mr Johnson and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to discuss the PM’s Brexit blueprint.
Mr Tusk wrote on Twitter: “Today I had two phone calls on #Brexit, first with Dublin then with London. My message to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: We stand fully behind Ireland.
“My message to PM Boris Johnson: We remain open but still unconvinced.”
Speaking about what happens next with Brexit, ahead of the Plaid Cymru party conference, leader Adam Price told BBC Radio 4’s Today Program “the way forward is to take it back to a final say referendum “. He added:
“I think there is one scenario which our members are going to be discussing this conference and indeed our MPs have already said that as a last resort option, even now, if no deal was the only policy that was being rammed through, then you have to stop that, because that is reckless and irresponsible.
“That isn’t a policy. That’s the absence of a policy.
“So with that qualification under those circumstances, then we would consider revoking Article 50 even now, because that would be disastrous.It would decimate Welsh agriculture overnight.
“The proper way to proceed is for the Government to present its proposal, its deal, to the peop le and for the people to decide.
“In the context of that referendum then obviously we would make our case and try and persuade as many people as possible that the best way forward for Wales is to remain within the European Union. ”
Asked if he was up for doing a deal with the Liberal Democrats to stand aside in some Welsh seats at a future general election, he said: “As a point of principle, yes, we will work with pro-Remain parties but obviously whether a deal will be done that’s a matter of discussion. ”
Boris Johnson faces another court showdown as his opponents look to force aBrexitextension after EU leaders warned they were “still unconvinced” by his fresh plans.
European figures gave the Prime Minister’s proposals the short shrift, with senior figures dubbing his “two borders” customs suggestion for Northern Ireland “unconvincing”.
Mr Johnson is expected to continue his efforts on Friday and over the weekend to convince Brussels to show flexibility on his submitted plans.
Read more below:
Boris Johnson faces another court showdown as opponents bid to force extension
Good morning and welcome to our live politics updates.
Northern Ireland’s chief constable Simon Byrne told a meeting of the Northern Ireland Policing Board that he has “made it clear” to the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) that police will not “staff any form of border security”.
Proposals suggest that most customs checks could be carried out electronically but a small number of physical checks would be required either at business premises or at points on the supply chain.
“We have been working closely with the Northern Ireland Office to understand our constitutional position in relation to any proposed changes to border arrangements, and I have been clear with the NIO in particular that it will not be the role of the PSNI to staff any form of border security, “he said.
“We are clearly there to facilitate normality and day-to-day policing, but not to carry out custom checks and the function of other agencies in whatever proposal is or isn’t agreed in the next few weeks and indeed I have taken legal advice on that basis to confirm to me the independence of the office of chief constable and the duties I have to make sure that police officers are used for legitimate policing purpose. “
Following the Taoiseach’s phone calls with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk, a statement from the Irish government said:
“In both calls the Taoiseach said he welcomes the fact that the UK Prime Minister has put forward proposals as a basis for further discussion, but that major issues remain with the UK’s proposals, especially on customs, and with consent and democracy in the north.
“The Taoiseach reassured both presidents of Ireland’s commitment to protecting the EU single market and customs union, as well as protecting the Good Friday Agreement and avoiding a hard border.
“Time is short, and all pledged to stay in touch, both directly and through their teams.”
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