THE battle between Parliament and Boris Johnson is poised to take another twist tomorrow with the so-called “ rebel alliance ”requesting emergency debates aimed at forcing the Government to publish further paperwork related to no-deal planning, and ensuring the Prime Minister adheres to the rule of law.
ITV’s political correspondent Paul Brand tweeted that MPs were trying to force the debates in accordance with a Parliamentarynprocedure known as Standing Order 24 (SO 24 ). He added: “One on revealing government paperwork on Operation Yellowhammer (No Deal scenarios).”
MPs are tabling two more applications for emergency debates using SO 24(Image: GETTY)
He added: “One on PM adhering to the rule of law (as he hints he might be willing to bend it). ”
Operation Yellowhammer is the classified document detailing the government impact assessment of a no-deal Brexit.
MPs are increasingly concerned that Johnson will try to ignore a bill, due to be signed into law on Monday, to force him to request a Brexit delay if Parliament has not agreed to a deal or to leaving the European Union without an agreement by October 19.
A separate SO 24 was used to force a debate last week which resulted in the passing of legislation aimed at blocking a no deal Brexit.
Dominic Raab speaks to Sophie Ridge(Image: Sky News)
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab indicated earlier today Government legal experts are poring over new legislation instructing Boris Johnson to request a further delay to Article 50 for loopholes.
He told Sky News’ Sophie Ridge: “We will adhere to the law but also this is such a bad piece of legislation.
“We will also want to test to the limit what it does actually lawfully require. “We will look very carefully at the implications and our interpretation of it.”
“ People at various points challenged the government over Brexit. We had two legal challenges last week alone and we won both of those. ”
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Paul Brand’s tweet(Image: Twitter
The Sunday Times today reported Mr Johnson willl go to the EU’s summit on October 17 to seek a deal with Brussels.
However, if no deal is not agreed, he will refuse to demand a delay to Article 50, despite the new law , which is due to come into force tomorrow.
A senior Number 10 source told the paper: “If there isn’t a deal by the 18 th we will sabotage the extension. ”
Another source suggested Mr Johnson would “take a chainsaw to anything” standing in the Government’s way.
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John McDonnell has said he does no t trust Mr Johnson “an inch”(Image: GETTY)
Mr Johnson’s advisers have unearthed a piece of EU legislation they believe will enable the UK to bring bring the incoming European Commission to a grinding halt if the UK has not left the bloc by October 31.
The Commission needs to have 28 commissioners by November 1, one for each member state, the Mirror reports.
If Mr Johnson refuses to supply one from Britain, in theory the Commission will not be able to constitute itself, legally.
A Number 10 source said: “We will play the E U at their own game and fight fire with fire. ”
Many people remain skeptic as to whether Brexit will happen by October 31(Image: Daily Express)
Speaking to Andrew Marr earlier, Labor’s Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said he feared the Prime Minister would possibly wait until no-deal was the only possible option and that a general election would not solve the issue.
He continued: “I think we’re in an extremely serious constitutional position.
“We don’t believe that we can pin him down and I don’t trust him an inch, and I don’t think anyone does. We’ve got a Prime Minister who has said he would not abide by the law.
“We’re in a situation where no-one can trust while he’s in place what could happen.”
David Gauke with Dominic Grieve in the House of Commons(Image: GETTY)
Former Justice Secretary David Gauke has warned the current “uncertainty” surrounding whether the Prime Minister could defy the will of Parliament was “damaging to the rule of law”.
Mr Gauke, who was sacked by the PM this week for rebelling, said: “In the end, I don’t expect any Prime Minister to defy the law.
“But the uncertainty about the Government’s intentions is, in itself, damaging to the rule of law.
“Ministers should be clear and unambiguous – the Government will abide by the law. “
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