MPs have been told it is too late to block a no deal Brexit – even if they force a general election.
Boris Johnson ’s most senior aide, Dominic Cummings has reportedly told ministers the Prime Minister will honour his promise to leave ‘do or die’ on October 31 – even if Parliament forces him to go to the country.
Election law means the Prime Minister sets the date of a general election, even if he loses a vote of no confidence in his Government.
And according to the Telegraph, Cummings has briefed Ministers that Labour and remainer MPs have “missed their chance” to secure an election before the Halloween deadline.
The Prime Minister was reported to be plotting for an election to boost his diminishing ranks in Parliament and increase his chances of getting a deal past MPs.
His flurry of spending commitments, including a £1.8 billion NHS pledge on Sunday, have fuelled thinking that he is trying to woo voters.
Tory Chairman James Cleverly said today that the government would not “initiate” a general election.
But he didn’t rule out one taking place if Parliament forces the government out of power.
“There isn’t. We are not going to initiate a general election,” Mr Cleverly told Sky News.
“What we’ve got is a new Prime Minister who during the leadership campaign made a number of explicit commitments and he is setting about delivering on those commitments.
“Prime ministers making good on their promises is a good thing and that is what we are doing.”
Tory MP Dominic Grieve has vowed to help bring down the Government if there’s a chance it could stop a no deal Brexit .
He told Radio 4’s Broadcasting House: “Dominic Cummings seems to me to be the master of disinformation. I have no doubt that’s why Boris Johnson appointed him.”
He accepted, though, that there was a “series of obstacles” in the way of Parliament preventing no-deal in the face of a government “hell bent” on delivering Brexit come what may.
(Image: REUTERS)
But he added: “I also think [Cummings] may be missing the point that there are a number of things the House of Commons can do – including bringing down the government and setting up a new one in its place.”
Asked if he would be part of such a movement, he said: “If I have to, yes.”
It comes as a leaked ‘secret’ Government report suggested schools could be forced to close and cancel examinations because of travel disruption and skyrocketing food prices.
Citing Dover as having the highest risk, the Department for Education (DfE) document – seen by the Observer – says: “Risk of travel disruption could result in school and early years settings closures, pupil and staff absence and exam disruption.”
It says that communications “could spark undue alarm or panic food buying among the general public” and that “in light of any food shortages” it will guide on how schools “can interpret the food menu standards flexibly”.
Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said: “This document lays bare the potential consequences of a disastrous no-deal Brexit for our schools and nurseries, and the parents and children who rely on them.
“By the Government’s own admission, head teachers may be left unable to feed their pupils or forced to close their doors entirely.”
The DfE said schools provisions is likely to be protected in the event of no-deal.
“We are confident provision for schools will be protected in the event of the UK having to leave the EU without an agreement and there are robust contingency plans in place to ensure schools are prepared in all eventualities,” a spokeswoman said.
A separate leaked Government document suggested no-deal could trigger “consumer panic”, food shortages and an increased security threat within a fortnight.
Warnings also came from Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, who said that shoppers and motorists will face higher prices and a “substantial number” of firms could find they can no longer compete in its event.
The Government’s spending watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility, also recently warned that no-deal would increase borrowing by £30 billion a year and plunge the nation into a recession.
Meanwhile, Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay has urged the EU to give chief negotiator Michel Barnier a mandate to re-open the Brexit deal, otherwise no-deal is “coming down the track”.
Mr Barclay said the EU negotiator told him in their discussion this week that he is bound by the instructions given to him by the Commission and leaders of member states.
But Mr Barclay argued the “political realities have changed” since the task was set, with 61% of MEPs having changed in the recent election.
“Such a fundamental shift illustrates the need for a change of approach,” Mr Barclay wrote in the Mail on Sunday.
“Mr Barnier needs to urge EU leaders to consider this if they too want an agreement, to enable him to negotiate in a way that finds common ground with the UK. Otherwise, no-deal is coming down the tracks.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ramped up his rhetoric over his desires to take the UK out of the EU by October 31, as part of his “do or die” commitment.
He has clashed with EU leaders, saying the Irish backstop to prevent a hard border must be abolished and insisted a new deal can be achieved.
But Brussels has refused to reopen Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement and Irish premier Leo Varadkar told him this week that the backstop was “necessary as a consequence of decisions taken in the UK”.
