BORIS Johnson has been told he must not “trample over democracy” after it emerged he has asked for legal advice whether Parliament can be shut down for five weeks in bid to stop MPs delaying Brexit.
The SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford issued the warning following leaked emails to a newspaper show the Prime Minister had sought guidance from the Attorney General Geoffrey Cox on whether the Commons could be “prorogued” in the five weeks from September 9.
Blackford said such a move would be “outrageous and utterly undemocratic” and could tip the UK into a recession costing every person in Scotland £2300 a year.
“Boris Johnson cannot be allowed to trample over democracy. He must urgently ditch his plans to drag Scotland and the UK off the Brexit cliff-edge,” he said.
“Any pretence that Scotland will ever be treated as an equal partner in the UK has gone. People in Scotland deserve the choice of a better future than the bankrupt Brexit Britain currently being imposed on us by the Tories.”
READ MORE: Tories considering snap General Election on October 17
The leaked correspondence from one UK Government adviser to another, claims while such a move may be possible as it stands, it depends on whether campaigners who are opposed to a No-Deal Brexit are able to prevent it in the courts.
The SNP along wiht other pro-Remain MPs have spent the summer working on plans to halt a No-Deal exit, including by amending Brexit-related legislation that could force a further extension to the October 31 deadline.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is also expected to table a no-confidence vote which could topple Johnson’s government and usher in a new administration.
But the document details how Johnson’s team are weighing up a move that would see Parliament closed until the eve of the last EU summit before Brexit, on 17 and 18 October, when it could be too late for MPs to block no deal.
Speaking ahead of the crunch G7 summit in Biarritz this weekend, Johnson, who has said he did not want to prorogue Parliament, but would not rule it out, urged MPs not to try and frustrate the Brexit process.
He said: “I think it’s parliament’s job now to respect not just the will of the people but to remember what the overwhelming majority of them promised to do over and over and over again, which is to get Brexit done, to respect the will of the people, and to come out of the EU on 31 October.
“That is what I am confident our parliament will do.”
A government source told the Observer there was “a definite and clear plan to prorogue parliament being hatched by Johnson’s closest advisers”.
And a further government source did not deny legal advice had been sought, adding: “As a matter of routine, No 10 officials ask for legal and policy advice every day.”
Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer said: “Any plan to suspend parliament at this stage would be outrageous. MPs must take the earliest opportunity to thwart this plan and to stop a No-Deal Brexit.”
Tory Remainer and former Attorney General Dominic Grieve added: “This memo, if correct, shows Boris Johnson’s contempt for the House of Commons. It may be possible to circumvent the clear intention of the House of Commons in this way but it shows total bad faith.
“Excluding the house from a national crisis that threatens the future of our country is entirely wrong.”
The campaigner and businesswoman Gina Miller has said she will spearhead an immediate legal challenge should Johnson try to shut down parliament in order to drive through a No-Deal Brexit against the wishes of MPs.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel