Boris Johnson has told other European leaders that they should not rely on parliament to stop a no-deal Brexit, ahead a crucial planning meeting of opposition leaders in Westminster trying to block the UK leaving the EU without an agreement.
The British prime minister has suggested he is now more optimistic about the prospect of a new Brexit deal following meetings with Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron and Donald Tusk this week. But government sources said that he has said in bilateral meetings that he does not believe parliament will force him to change tack.
Mr Johnson has insisted that the UK will leave the EU on October 31, with or without a deal. His approach has alarmed many parliamentarians who are concerned about the potential disruption resulting from a no-deal scenario.
“The prime minister has been very clear to European leaders that he’s seen in the last week that the idea that Brexit is going to be stopped is incorrect. We are leaving on October 31 with a deal or without — the prime minister would prefer it to be a deal,” said one senior British government official.
“He thinks that European leaders should not be listening to the very wrong messages emerging from some parliamentarians who think they will stop Brexit.”
The individual reiterated Mr Johnson’s insistence that MPs had to deliver on the outcome of the 2016 referendum. “The prime minister has been repeatedly clear that parliamentarians and politicians don’t get to choose which public votes they respect,” — a hint that Downing Street may seek to ignore any parliamentary votes on Brexit.
Government insiders suggested that Brussels officials had listened “far too much” to Remain-minded politicians, who have argued that MPs would succeed in forcing Mr Johnson to extend Brexit or hold a second referendum.
Mr Johnson’s comments came as Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, prepares to convene a meeting with leaders of other opposition parties on Tuesday to consider how to block a no-deal Brexit and possibly form a caretaker government.
The SNP, Liberal Democrats, Change UK, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party have all accepted the invitation to meet Mr Corbyn on Tuesday to discuss how an alternative government could be formed when parliament returns in September.
Some Conservative rebel MPs, including Dominic Grieve, have also said in the past that they would be willing to meet Mr Corbyn to discuss the best way of preventing a no-deal Brexit.
However, Jo Swinson, the Liberal Democrat leader, has repeatedly argued that Mr Corbyn risks jeopardising any vote of no confidence in the government by insisting that he alone should be the caretaker prime minister if Mr Johnson falls.
On Monday, Ms Swinson wrote in a letter to Mr Corbyn: “Insisting you lead that emergency government will . . . jeopardise the chances of a no-confidence vote gaining enough support to pass in the first place.
“As you have said that you would do anything to avoid no deal, I hope you are open to a discussion about how conceding this point may open the door to a no-confidence vote succeeding. Its success must be the priority.”
Ms Swinson argues that two other senior parliamentarians — Ken Clarke and Harriet Harman — could be valid caretaker PMs. Other pro-Remain MPs are focused instead on passing legislation that they hope would force Mr Johnson’s hand.
