- Tory MPs threatened with deselection if they oppose the government
- October general election looking increasingly likely
Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a showdown in Westminster today after officials warned he would call for a snap general election on 14 October if MPs succeed in seizing control of Commons business.
A cross-party ‘Rebel Alliance’ is planning a bill to stop the UK leaving the EU on 31 October without a deal.
Mr Johnson said he did not want an election, but progress with the EU would be “impossible” if the opposition defeats the government.
Labour says it is ready for a general election but will vote against any government plans to hold a general election before the UK is due to leave the EU on 31 October – and Boris Johnson needs the support of two thirds of MPs to force an early general election.
The Prime Minister made a statement from Downing Street last night:
Five weeks ago I spoke to you from these steps and said that this Government was not going to hang around and that we would not wait until brexit day – October 31 – to deliver on the priorities of the British people.
And so I am proud to say that on Wednesday Chancellor Sajid Javid is going to set out the most ambitious spending round for more than a decade.
I said I wanted to make your streets safer – and that is why we are recruiting another 20,000 police officers.
I said I wanted to improve your hospital and reduce the waiting times at your GP.
And so we are doing 20 new hospital upgrades in addition to the extra £34 billion going into the NHS.
And I said I wanted every child in this country to have a superb education and that’s why I announced last week that we are levelling up funding across the country and spending much more next year in both primary and secondary schools.
And it is to push forward this agenda on these and many other fronts that we need a Queen’s speech in October.
While leaving due time to debate brexit and other matters.
And as we come to that brexit deadline I am encouraged by the progress we are making.
In the last few weeks the chances of a deal have been rising, I believe, for three reasons.
They can see that we want a deal.
They can see that we have a clear vision for our future relationship with the EU – something that has perhaps not always been the case.
And they can see that we are utterly determined to strengthen our position by getting ready to come out regardless, come what may.
But if there is one thing that can hold us back in these talks it is the sense in Brussels that MPs may find some way to cancel the referendum. I don’t think they will – I hope that they won’t. But if they do they will plainly chop the legs out from under the UK position and make any further negotiation absolutely impossible.
I want everybody to know – there are no circumstances in which I will ask Brussels to delay. We are leaving on 31 October, no ifs or buts.
We will not accept any attempt to go back on our promises or scrub that referendum.
Armed and fortified with that conviction I believe we will get a deal at that crucial summit in October.
A deal that parliament will certainly be able to scrutinise.
And in the meantime let our negotiators get on with their work
Without that sword of Damocles over their necks
And without an election, which I don’t want and you don’t want
Let us get on with the people’s agenda – fighting crime, improving the NHS, boosting schools, cutting the cost of living, and unlocking talent and opportunity across the entire United Kingdom
With infrastructure education and technology
It is a massive agenda. Let’s come together and get it done – and let’s get Brexit done by October 31.
Johnson is fighting a battle on two fronts. As well as facing a huge challenge in parliament today, the government’s intentions are being challenged in the courts.
In Scotland, The Lord Advocate has lodged applications to intervene in two legal cases aimed at stopping the UK Parliament being suspended ahead of the Brexit deadline.
Scotland’s most senior law officer is seeking permission to make representations to hearings at the Court of Session in Edinburgh and the High Court in London.
If the applications are approved, the Lord Advocate will contend that the UK Government’s prorogation of the Westminster Parliament prevents scrutiny and represents an abuse of executive power.
The hearing at the Court of Session takes place today before Lord Doherty and has been brought by Joanna Cherry MP and others.
On Thursday 5 September the High Court hears a separate action brought by anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller.
Constitutional Affairs Secretary Michael Russell said: “Accountable government is a fundamental principle of our democracy. This attempt to suspend the UK Parliament at such a critical time is a clear attempt to silence opposition and must be resisted.
“The democratic wishes of the Scottish people and the Scottish Parliament should not be allowed to be brushed aside as if they did not matter.”
Financial markets don’t like political uncertainty, and the ongoing Brexit impasse and speculation about a general election has seen the pound dip sharply against both the dollar and the euro.
Boris Johnson’s Brexit strategy is nothing more than a high-risk gamble for the UK economy, the CEO of one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory organisations warned yesterday.
The stark warning from Nigel Green, the chief executive of deVere Group, comes as it is revealed that several billion pounds have been pulled out of UK equity funds since Mr Johnson became Prime Minister amid growing fears of a no-deal Brexit.
Mr Green says: “There’s an ongoing and growing shift out of the UK and into the EU by international fund managers as Boris Johnson’s political manoeuvres continue to increase the likelihood of Britain leaving the EU with no-deal.
“Tens of billions have already outflowed from UK equities since the referendum – and the haemorrhaging in this area doesn’t show any sign of stopping.
“In addition, Brexit has already cost the UK economy more than £66bn in under three years, according to S&P Global Ratings.”
He continued: “Britain’s global reputation as a pro-business, stable, secure jurisdiction to invest in and do business has taken a hit since the referendum in 2016. It’s now fading fast as the Prime Minister ramps up his ‘do or die’ approach to Brexit as parliament returns.
“On Monday Mr Johnson threatened to sack Conservative MPs who fail to support his government in the battle over planned legislation designed to block a no-deal Brexit.
“Also this week, the first adverts will be released as part of Boris Johnson’s new £100million campaign to get ready for Brexit. The biggest public information campaign since World War Two will run across TV, social media and billboards for the next two months.
“All these measures are, of course, tactics; they’re a very public display of defiance to the EU to pressurise them to reopen negotiations and/or give concessions to the UK.
“But this so-called ‘strategy’ is nothing more than a high-risk gamble. Of course, it might work at the eleventh hour. But if it fails, the consequences for the UK economy will be serious and far-reaching.
“I’m not sure that any political leader should be playing poker with their nation’s economy at stake.”
The deVere CEO concludes: “Now parliament has returned from summer recess, it must put in as much work into getting a deal as preparing for no-deal.”
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