The prime minister could turn to the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 which gives ministers the right to suspend the rule of law for up to 30 days if a tumultuous situations threatens the stability of the UK. According to the Act, the country would have to be faced with “an event or situation which threatens serious damage to human welfare” or “serious damage to the environment of the United Kingdom or of a part of the region”.
The risk of “war or terrorism” can also be used as a reason to declare an emergency across Britain.
Former attorney general Mr Grieve said he was “astonished” to hear ministers speak about the risk of civil unrest if Brexit was not delivered by Halloween.
Writing in the Daily Mail, he said: “My suspicion is that they may be planning to use the 2004 Civil Contingencies Act to suspend that law on the grounds that otherwise there will be riots before and
“What I find most shocking is that ministers seem to be actively promoting this idea to justify invoking the Civil Contingencies Act and declaring a state of emergency. ”
Mr Grieve, a prominent campaigner for a People’s Vote, said the message from Downing Street in recent week has been clear – “We have to leave by October 31 or there will be riots. ”
He accused the Johnson administration of using scare tactics to whip up support for a hard exit.
He attacked those indulging in “wild talk” about the possibility of angry Brexit voters taking to the streets if the result of the 2016 EU referendum is not delivered.
This week a senior minister, speaking anonymously, told The Times the UK could see a “violent, popular uprising ”if people voted Remain in a second referendum.
READ MORE:Brexiteer MP warns voters will ‘RIOT in STREETS’ on second referendum
The Cabinet member said demonstrations could mirror the gilets jaunes movement which has blighted French cities since last year or the LA riots of 1992.
Mr Johnson has warned any further delay to the UK’s departure from the EU would result in a “catastrophic loss of confidence in our political system ”.
The Brexiteer and his adviser Dominic Cummings have said the Government will respect the Benn law while also insisting Britain would not seek an extension.
The Act forces the prime minister to request a Brexit delay until January 2020 if he cannot strike a deal with the EU by October (****************************************.
See below for live updates.
DONT MISS
God save the Queen: Royal Brexit evacuation plan revealed [INSIGHT]
Northern Ireland police to get RIOT TRAINING over post-Brexit CHAOS [WARNING]
Britain will BURN like France if there is a SECOND BREXIT REFERENDUM [INSIGHT]
11. 29 am update : France and Germany ‘should be worried’ about post-Brexit competition from UK
Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom has warned Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel they should be worried about competing with a “global Britain” after Brexit.
The Brexiteer’s comments come after Mrs Merkel said earlier this month that Europe would have a “economic competitor on our doorstep” after the UK breaks ties with Brussels.
When asked if Berlin and Paris were right to be concerned, Ms Leadsom told the Financial Times: “They should be.”
She added: “We want to have a very close relationship with the EU and the very best-in-class free trade deal.
“By definition that will mean there’s nothing unfair about it.
“But there’s nothing wrong with competition – it’s unfair competition you want to avoid.”
11. 07 am update: Labor ‘slightly confused’ over confidence vote
Stewart Hosie of the SNP has described Labor’s position on a confidence vote in the Government as “slightly confused” but insisted Mr Corbyn’s group was committed to seeking a Brexit extension.
He said to get the Lib Dems fully on board with the plan to oust Mr Johnson, someone more likeable than Mr Corbyn would have to come forward to lead a temporary government.
“If another name came forward that was acceptable to everybody – a Ken Clarke or Dominic Grieve type figure – then self-evidently that would be a good thing to do,” Mr Hosie said .
But he went on to say that Labor should have the power to appoint an interim prime minister.
“But it is also self-evidently the case that the second largest party should have the first chance to form that administration,” he added.
“If Jo Swinson and the Lib Dems are actually serious about their stopping Brexit position then they need to stop playing political games, get on board with everybody else. “
10. 56 am update: Hammond blames MPs who voted down Theresa May’s deal for Brexit chaos
Philip Hammond said he is certain the prime minister will not be able to deliver on his campaign promise to take the UK out for he EU on October 31.
He said: “We will not be leaving the EU on October 31. And the responsibility for that outcome, like the responsibility for the failure to leave on March 29, lies squarely on the shoulders of those who have rejected the deal that has been on the table for almost a year. ”
The Independent MP for Runnymede and Weybridge served as chancellor in Mrs May’s government.
10. 26 am update: Hammond blasts Tories for morphing into ‘party of radicals’
Former chancellor Philip Hammond has said the modern-day Conservative Party is “unrecognisable” from the one he joined as a student decades ago.
The Remainer, who spearheaded a coup by Tory rebels to thwart a no-deal Brexit, compared to prime minister’s advisers to Marxists in the Labor party for their ideals.
He used an opinion piece entitled “I no longer recognize this party of radicals ”in The Times to hit out at his former party ahead of the conference in Manchester on Sunday.
“ The radicals advising Boris do not want a deal, ”he
“Like the Marxists on the Labor left, they see the shock of a disruptive no-deal Brexit as a chance to re-order our economy and society.”
10. 16 am update: Johnson could face vote of confidence next week
Opposition parties could stage a vote of confidence in the Government next week in a bid to thwart a no-deal Brexit,
A senior SNP MP has said opposition parties could stage a vote of confidence in the Government as early as next week to stop a no-deal Brexit.
The plan’s aim would be to install an interim government to ensure an extension to Breixit negotiations is secured.
Stewart Hosie said it appeared to be the only viable option to prevent a hard exit on October 31.
He told the BBC Radio 4 Today program: “We have to do that because there is now no confidence that the Prime Minister will obey the law and seek the extension that Parliament voted for only a few weeks ago.
“If we are serious about the extension, that is the only game in town.” )
But while the SNP have indicated they could support a temporary government led by Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn, the Liberal Democrats and many of the 21 Tory rebels expelled from their party have refused to support the bid to put the socialist in No 10 Mr Hosie admitted all opposition parties would have to be on board for the plan to succeed.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings