The former justice secretary, who was stripped of the Tory whip for rebelling against Boris Johnson’s Brexit plans, suggested Conservative supporters should consider “lending” their votes to the Lib Dems at the general election. He spoke out as he confirmed he will stand as an independent in his South West Hertfordshire constituency. “A Conservative majority after the next General Election will take us in the direction of a very hard Brexit,” he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
“In all likelihood at the end of 2020 we will leave the implementation period without a deal with the EU, on WTO terms, in effect on no-deal terms, that I believe would be disastrous for the prosperity of this country – whole sectors would become unviable.”
Mr Gauke said that even if Mr Johnson wanted to extend the transition period in order to allow more time to negotiate a new free trade deal with the EU, he would be unable to do so.
“I think in reality the Prime Minister is so boxed in that the Conservative Party would not allow him to extend the implementation period even if he wanted to – and he shows no signs of wanting to do so,” he said.
Mr Gauke expressed admiration for Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson and suggested Tory supporters should back her party in some parts of the country.
“I’m impressed by (Lib Dem leader) Jo Swinson. I think if I was living in a lot of constituencies I would lend my vote to the Liberal Democrats,” he said.
Senior Cabinet minister Michael Gove rubbished Mr Gauke’s claim that the Prime Minister wanted a no-deal Brexit.
“It’s a hypothesis which has been put by people who have consistently… sought to raise bogies and to make people’s flesh creep,” he told the Today programme.
Mr Gove, who is in charge of the Government’s no-deal preparations, said a working majority for the Conservatives in the new parliament is the only way to end the “paralysis” over Brexit.
“Everyone knows that the Prime Minister wants a deal and the Government is determined to secure one,” he said.
Voters in South West Herts were divided over Mr Gauke’s move yesterday.
Louise Mellis, a business owner in Rickmansworth, said Mr Gauke was a “traitor to the Conservative Party”.
She said: “I have not been impressed with him, he didn’t vote for one of the Brexit deals to go through, he isn’t listening to what the people said. We voted to go out.
“I didn’t vote to go out but the public did. He’s put his own personal opinions before his duty to the country and I’m glad he’s gone independent because I wouldn’t vote for him anyway.”
Ms Mellis, 54, who runs a luxury dress shop on the main high street in Rickmansworth, said she did not think Mr Gauke would “stand a chance” in the election on December 12.
Another constituent, who gave her name only as Jacqueline, said that the former justice secretary’s decision to stand as an independent would not make a difference locally.
“He was thrown out (of the party), which I think was the wrong thing to do, but on the other hand David Gauke betrayed Boris Johnson,” she said.
“There’s a 19,000 majority for South West Hertfordshire and he’s not going to dent that. It’s always been Conservative.”
But Stephen Cecil, 70, said that Mr Gauke was a “man of principle”.
“David Gauke is a very popular MP, whatever happens,” he said.
“I know him, he’s a really nice chap and a very good MP, but the problem is he’s an independent now and South West Hertfordshire has been Conservative for many, many years.
“He was thrown out (of the party), he lost the whip because he didn’t agree with the way Boris Johnson was going, so he’s a man of principle. We admire that.”
Ann Green, also from Rickmansworth, said: “I think the party has betrayed him really.
“I’m not a Conservative but I am thinking of voting for him because I think he’s been treated badly.”
Mr Gauke was one of 21 MPs kicked out of the Tory Party in September after they backed a plan to take control of the Commons timetable to pass legislation to block a no-deal Brexit.
Alistair Campbell, the former chief aide to Tony Blair who is heading the People’s Vote campaign for a second EU referendum, promised to campaign for Mr Gauke.
“I will go and campaign for David Gauke, I think we’ve all got to do what we can do,” he told ITV News.
Mr Campbell was expelled from the Labour Party in May after voting Lib Dem in the Euro elections.
