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Brexit: Corbyn seeks clarity on 'unconstitutional' election-time no-deal | Brexit: Corbyn seeks clarity on 'unconstitutional' election-time no-deal |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Jeremy Corbyn has asked the cabinet secretary to rule on whether Boris Johnson could force through a no-deal Brexit in a general election period. | Jeremy Corbyn has asked the cabinet secretary to rule on whether Boris Johnson could force through a no-deal Brexit in a general election period. |
There have been reports the PM could call an election that would be held after the 31 October Brexit deadline - the day the UK is due to leave the EU. | There have been reports the PM could call an election that would be held after the 31 October Brexit deadline - the day the UK is due to leave the EU. |
The Labour leader has written to Sir Mark Sedwill saying such a move would be an "anti-democratic abuse of power". | The Labour leader has written to Sir Mark Sedwill saying such a move would be an "anti-democratic abuse of power". |
It comes amid speculation MPs will table a no-confidence motion in the PM. | It comes amid speculation MPs will table a no-confidence motion in the PM. |
It is thought opposition MPs could propose the vote in a bid to prevent the UK leaving the EU with no deal. | It is thought opposition MPs could propose the vote in a bid to prevent the UK leaving the EU with no deal. |
The UK will leave the EU on 31 October with or without a deal unless Article 50 is extended or revoked. | The UK will leave the EU on 31 October with or without a deal unless Article 50 is extended or revoked. |
Mr Corbyn said the party would propose the vote at an "appropriate" time after the Commons returns from its summer recess on 5 September. | Mr Corbyn said the party would propose the vote at an "appropriate" time after the Commons returns from its summer recess on 5 September. |
What happens if the PM loses? | What happens if the PM loses? |
If the PM loses the motion of no-confidence, then under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act he would have another 14 days to win another vote. | If the PM loses the motion of no-confidence, then under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act he would have another 14 days to win another vote. |
If he fails to secure the vote then a general election would be called on a date advised on by the PM. | If he fails to secure the vote then a general election would be called on a date advised on by the PM. |
However, if another candidate can secure the confidence of the Commons then, under cabinet rules, Mr Johnson would be expected to resign and recommend the Queen appoints the other person. | However, if another candidate can secure the confidence of the Commons then, under cabinet rules, Mr Johnson would be expected to resign and recommend the Queen appoints the other person. |
The ex-leader of the Liberal Democrats predicted his party and a "significant number" of Tories would support a no-confidence motion. | |
Sir Vince Cable told BBC's Newsnight the UK has been in a constitutional crisis for "a long time" and there would be wide support for an "emergency administration" to take over from Mr Johnson. | |
What does the government say? | What does the government say? |
According to the Sunday Telegraph, Dominic Cummings, the PM's senior adviser at No 10, told MPs that, even if Mr Johnson lost a no-confidence vote, it would not prevent him taking the UK out of the EU by the agreed deadline. | |
He is reported to have said the PM could call an election to fall after 31 October, by which time Britain would be out of the EU. | He is reported to have said the PM could call an election to fall after 31 October, by which time Britain would be out of the EU. |
Brexiteers say Britain's departure from the EU is already set, with Parliament having voted to leave, to trigger Article 50 and to pass legislation to set a deadline of 31 October. | Brexiteers say Britain's departure from the EU is already set, with Parliament having voted to leave, to trigger Article 50 and to pass legislation to set a deadline of 31 October. |
An 'unprecedented' move | An 'unprecedented' move |
In his letter to Sir Mark, Mr Corbyn called such a move "unprecedented" and "unconstitutional". | In his letter to Sir Mark, Mr Corbyn called such a move "unprecedented" and "unconstitutional". |
He referred to the Cabinet Office's election "purdah" guidance, which states that policy decisions on which a new government "might be expected to want to take a different view" should be postponed until after the election. | He referred to the Cabinet Office's election "purdah" guidance, which states that policy decisions on which a new government "might be expected to want to take a different view" should be postponed until after the election. |
Mr Corbyn added that a Labour government would never support a no-deal Brexit, and so would "want the opportunity to take a different view". | Mr Corbyn added that a Labour government would never support a no-deal Brexit, and so would "want the opportunity to take a different view". |
He called on Sir Mark to rule that if the UK was due to leave the EU with no deal during an election, the government should seek another time-limited extension to Article 50 to give voters the choice. | He called on Sir Mark to rule that if the UK was due to leave the EU with no deal during an election, the government should seek another time-limited extension to Article 50 to give voters the choice. |
"Forcing through no-deal against a decision of Parliament, and denying the choice to the voters in a general election already under way, would be an unprecedented, unconstitutional and anti-democratic abuse of power by a prime minister elected not by the public but by a small number of unrepresentative Conservative Party members," he wrote. | "Forcing through no-deal against a decision of Parliament, and denying the choice to the voters in a general election already under way, would be an unprecedented, unconstitutional and anti-democratic abuse of power by a prime minister elected not by the public but by a small number of unrepresentative Conservative Party members," he wrote. |
Analysis | Analysis |
By Peter Saull, political correspondent | By Peter Saull, political correspondent |
In the period before elections there are restrictions on what civil servants can and can't do. | In the period before elections there are restrictions on what civil servants can and can't do. |
The idea is to stop what is, effectively, a caretaker government from implementing decisions that the next government might disagree with. | The idea is to stop what is, effectively, a caretaker government from implementing decisions that the next government might disagree with. |
Downing Street would probably argue that those rules don't apply to Brexit. | Downing Street would probably argue that those rules don't apply to Brexit. |
The UK's withdrawal from the EU has been the legal default since MPs voted to trigger Article 50 in March 2017. | The UK's withdrawal from the EU has been the legal default since MPs voted to trigger Article 50 in March 2017. |
Nevertheless, purdah rules could limit the government's ability to make last-minute preparations for a no deal departure. | Nevertheless, purdah rules could limit the government's ability to make last-minute preparations for a no deal departure. |
Ministers would not, for example, be able to instruct civil servants to start a new public information campaign. | Ministers would not, for example, be able to instruct civil servants to start a new public information campaign. |
Of course, all of this is unchartered territory and no-one knows for sure quite how it will all pan out. | Of course, all of this is unchartered territory and no-one knows for sure quite how it will all pan out. |