A top Tory who opposed shutting down Parliament is understood to be resisting calls to resign.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock came under fire tonight over comments he made three months ago – about suspending parliament to deny MPs a say in Brexit .
At the time he wrote: “Proroguing Parliament undermines parliamentary democracy and risks a general election. I rule it out and call on all candidates to do the same.”
In a June letter to MPs the Cabinet minister went even further saying: “A policy on Brexit to prorogue Parliament would mean the end of the Conservative Party as a serious party of government.”
Now his Prime Minister, Boris Johnson , has confirmed he will prorogue Parliament for more than a month just a few weeks before Brexit.
However, friends of Mr Hancock tonight said he had been talking about proroguing parliament specifically to force through a no deal Brexit.
At the time, Parliament had explicitly ruled out that course of action.
By contrast, Boris Johnson’s aides are insisting his plan – to return to Parliament two and a half weeks before Brexit – will give MPs a vote on any deal he strikes.
Rather than suggesting Mr Hancock might quit, a source defended the PM’s plan to prorogue parliament. They said: “This is the best way of leaving the EU with a deal.
“It increases the chances of securing an acceptable agreement and offers the means by which you would get it through parliament.”
Friends pointed out that elsewhere in his June letter, Mr Hancock had specified it was wrong to “prorogue Parliament to deliver a no-deal Brexit”.
Critics who spotted the letter on Twitter insisted Mr Hancock should quit, because despite the differences, Boris Johnson’s decision will frustrate MPs’ bids to block no-deal.
(Image: Getty Images)
Labour MP Jo Stevens said: “Hancock is a liar just like his boss.” Fellow Labour MP Jess Phillips mocked him, saying: “But…but…but…I want to keep my job”.
Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott added: “So what does Matt Hancock think now it has actually happened?
“Has he changed his mind on the issue of closing down Parliament?”
- September 3: Parliament returns after summer break. MPs’ chance to vote no confidence in government or block no-deal Brexit
- September 4: Chancellor announces Whitehall spending for 2020/21
- September 12: Parliament suspended
- September 22-25: Labour Party conference
- September 23-27: Boris Johnson speaks at UN General Assembly in this week and could visit the White House
- September 29 – October 2: Tory Party conference
- October 14: Parliament returns with Queen’s Speech – but is then snarled up in a week of debates
- October 17: European Council meeting. The last chance to get a Brexit deal with 27 EU leaders
- October 21-22: Votes on the Queen’s Speech
- Final week: Vote on any plan Boris Johnson gets for Brexit
- October 31: Brexit happens, with or without a deal
MPs are expected to sit in the Commons for just six or seven days before they leave by September 12, returning only on October 14.
Downing Street insist the prorogation is a normal turn of events to allow a Queen’s Speech to happen on October 14 with a plan for government.
But Remainers across Parliament said it was a naked bid to stop MPs voting on Brexit – while Jeremy Corbyn called it a “smash and grab on democracy”.
Officials pointed out that MPs would normally have gone on a three-week recess for party conferences in the same period anyway. But cross-party MPs had been planning to try to cancel this recess once Parliament returned.
