Mr Hague warned the Prime Minister about “damaging” the rule of law through the Brexit process, after the Supreme Court last week ruled against Mr Johnson’s decision to prorogue Parliament. As Mr Johnson nears his Conservative Party conference speech this Wednesday, Mr Hague warned the Prime Minister against “finding a way to avoid implementing the Benn Act”, in place to try to halt a no deal exit at the end of the month. Writing in the Telegraph, Mr Hague said: “Disagreeing with it is one thing, but finding a technicality by which to evade a law, the intent of which is quite clear, is another.
“Conservatives should have sufficient historical perspective to know that achieving desirable political ends does not justify questionable legal means.
“They should not set precedents that one day will be used against them by their enemies.”
Mr Hague highlighted that once the UK has left the European Union, Britain’s “provision of a principal global base for the rule of law” and those who value it could be an “even more pronounced advantage”.
For this reason, Mr Hague urged Mr Johnson “not to damage” the rule of law “in the process of ‘getting Brexit done’”.
He added: “The decision to prorogue Parliament for five weeks was extremely unwise, bringing forth last week’s categoric and unanimous ruling by the justices of the Supreme Court that it was unlawful.
“While their judgment might have come as a surprise, it was hard to fault their reasoning, which will also constrain any future government of the far-Left. It sent a signal to the world that the rule of law in Britain can be relied upon.”
Mr Hague warned “raising the stakes further” and trying to sidestep the Benn Act “will only produce an even stronger response”.
“Casting doubt about implementing the law merely invites opposition parties and expelled Tories to pass a stronger one,” he added.
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He said: “I think it is wrong that Parliamentarians should be crowded out for using words like surrender.
“I think what most people in this country would agree is that Brexit discussion has been going on for far too long and it is true that tempers on both sides have now become inflamed.
“The best way to end this is to get Brexit done on October 31 and move the country forwards. That is what we are going to do.”
On Monday evening, the Telegraph reported Boris Johnson could reveal his final Brexit plan to European Union leaders as early as Tuesday.
The plan is expected to be based on the creation of an all-Ireland “economic zone” which would allow agricultural and food products to move between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland without checks at the border.
The Irish border issue has been a major stumbling block in negotiations, with the European Union adamant on protecting the integrity of the single market and customs union.
Irish state broadcaster RTE reported Britain is proposing to set up “customs clearance centres” on both sides of the Irish border, to avoid checks.
RTE Europe Editor Tony Connelly said on Twitter: “The UK has proposed a string of ‘customs clearance centres’ on both sides of the Irish border as a key part of its plan to replace the backstop.”
“The ‘centres’, effectively customs posts, would be located between 5-10 miles (8-16 km) ‘back’ from the border,” he added.
