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Brexit: Corbyn seeks clarity on 'unconstitutional' election-time no-deal Brexit: Corbyn seeks clarity on 'unconstitutional' election-time no-deal
(32 minutes later)
Jeremy Corbyn has urged the UK's most senior civil servant to intervene to prevent a no-deal Brexit during a general election campaign. Jeremy Corbyn has urged the UK's most senior civil servant to intervene to prevent a no-deal Brexit happening during a general election campaign.
The Labour leader is concerned that Boris Johnson could call an election and withdraw the UK from the EU before polling day. The Labour leader is concerned that the UK could leave the EU on 31 October, while a campaign is ongoing and before a new government is elected.
He has written to Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill saying such a move would be an "anti-democratic abuse of power".He has written to Cabinet Secretary 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 - leading to a general election being called.
Mr Johnson has a working majority in Parliament of just one.Mr Johnson has a working majority in Parliament of just one.
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 3 September. Mr Corbyn said his party would propose a no-confidence vote at an "appropriate" time after the Commons returned from its summer recess on 3 September.
But when a general election is called, Parliament is dissolved 25 working days before the election - so some people are concerned Mr Johnson could push through a no-deal Brexit while MPs are away. Election rules say Parliament should be dissolved 25 working days before polling day - so some people are concerned Mr Johnson could allow a no-deal Brexit to happen while MPs are not sitting.
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 win the vote then a general election would be called on a date advised on by the PM.If he fails to win 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, Mr Johnson would be expected to resign and recommend the Queen appoint that person in his place.
The ex-leader of the Liberal Democrats predicted his party and a "significant number" of Tories would support a no-confidence motion. Ex-Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable, who thinks his party and a "significant number" of Tories would support a no-confidence motion, says there would be wide support for an "emergency administration" to take over from Mr Johnson.
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 deadline. On Thursday, Mr Johnson was asked whether he would resign if he lost a no-confidence vote.
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. "What MPs should do and what they've already voted to do, when triggering Article 50 and reconfirmed several times, is honour the mandate of the people [by leaving the EU]," he said.
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. Mr Johnson's senior adviser, Dominic Cummings, has reportedly told MPs that losing a no-confidence vote would not stop the prime minister taking the UK out of the EU by the October 31 deadline.
He is reported by the Sunday Telegraph to have said the PM could call an election to fall after 31 October, by which time Britain would have left.
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 the deadline of 31 October.
An 'unprecedented' moveAn 'unprecedented' move
In his letter to Sir Mark, Mr Corbyn called such a possible move "unprecedented" and "unconstitutional".In his letter to Sir Mark, Mr Corbyn called such a possible 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.
"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.
AnalysisAnalysis
By Peter Saull, political correspondentBy 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 uncharted territory and no-one knows for sure quite how it will all pan out.