Boris Johnson faces mounting backlash over plan to suspend parliament as no-deal Brexit looms

Political and legal challenges to prime minister as he announces plans to ‘step up the tempo’ on Brexit

Boris Johnson is facing a mounting political and legal challenge to his efforts to shut down parliament and force Brexit through, with opponents increasingly confident that they have the numbers to block a no-deal outcome in the Commons.

The prime minister declared his intention to “step up the tempo” in the hunt for a Brexit deal with the EU, revealing that UK officials will meet their counterparts in Brussels twice a week throughout September while MPs are locked out of Westminster.

But he was confronted by a growing backlash to his decision to ask the Queen to suspend Commons sittings for five weeks in the run-up to the Brexit deadline of 31 October, with a string of senior Tories speaking out in protest and more than 1.5 million voters signing a petition against the move.

Three legal actions were under way, with the High Court in London considering an application from campaigner Gina Miller to challenge the PM’s use of prorogation and the Court of Session in Edinburgh due to rule on Friday on a petition from more than 70 cross-party parliamentarians seeking to prevent an “abusive” and “unconstitutional” use of government powers.

Tory grandee Lord Young of Cookham became the first minister to quit Mr Johnson’s administration, declaring himself “very unhappy” with the prorogation move, while Ruth Davidson – who has clashed with the PM over no deal – stepped down as leader of the Scottish Conservatives.

And more than 20 other Tories went public to condemn the suspension of parliament, with Theresa May’s former deputy David Lidington saying he disagreed “very strongly” and ex-chancellor Kenneth Clarke warning that Johnson had “given in to the fanatic element”. Former justice secretary David Gauke said it appeared to be part of a “deliberate strategy” to make the Brexit debate angrier and more divisive.

Opposition leaders have demanded that Mr Johnson reverse his decision to suspend parliament or put it to a Commons vote.

In a joint statement from Labour, the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, The Independent Group for Change and the Green Party, the leaders said: “It is our view that there is a majority in the House of Commons that does not support this prorogation, and we demand that the prime minister reverses this decision immediately or allows MPs to vote on whether there should be one.”

The statement went on to say that “there is no mandate from the public for a damaging no-deal Brexit” and “voters are being deprived of the opportunity to have their representatives hold the government to account”.

Sources close to cross-party conversations on stopping a no-deal Brexit said the suspension of parliament had “galvanised” MPs, who are now confident of securing a majority if a vote can be forced and are focusing on the parliamentary tactics to achieve this.

But they acknowledged time was tight, with the session due to end as early as 9 September. Proposals are being developed to enable the House to sit into the evenings and through the weekend to maximise the time available before Mr Johnson shuts the doors.

Jeremy Corbyn said opposition parties were “working together to do everything we can” to pass legislation rapidly next week.

“What we are going to do is try to politically stop him on Tuesday with a parliamentary process in order to legislate to prevent a no-deal Brexit and also to try and prevent him shutting down parliament in this utterly crucial period,” said the Labour leader.

Jeremy Corbyn in Dunfermline yesterday; he said opposition parties were uniting to fight Johnson’s plans (PA)

It is looking increasingly likely that opponents of no-deal will seek an emergency motion immediately after the Commons returns on Tuesday. But this tactic would rely on speaker John Bercow making good on hints that he would permit a binding vote of a kind not normally available under the Commons’ standing order 24 (SO24).

Rebels’ hopes that Mr Bercow will allow them leeway were heightened when he denounced the prorogation as a “constitutional outrage” and insisted it was “vital that our elected parliament has its say”.

In a mark of the pressure already being heaped on the speaker, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, went on the attack, describing his comments as “the most constitutionally improper thing that happened yesterday”.

Dismissing protests as a “candyfloss of outrage” from people who have never wanted to leave the EU, Mr Rees-Mogg said: ”This is the greatest period of anger, of confected anger, because after 31 October we will have left and this is the last time they have available to try and thwart the 17.4 million people who voted to leave.”

BuzzFeed reported that No 10 has been “war-gaming” possible responses to rebel tactics, including creating new bank holidays to prevent the House from being recalled, filibustering any anti-no-deal bill in the Lords or appointing a raft of pro-Brexit peers to kill off any legislation.

But Mr Clarke said he expected Mr Johnson’s “petty dictator stuff” to bring together the “sensible majority” of MPs against him.

And John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, said: “I just give Boris Johnson this warning: Trying to undermine the very institution that people have given their lives for ... flies in the face of a whole history and centuries of democratic advancement in this country.

“I don’t think the British people will tolerate that. They have stood up to dictators before and they will stand up to this one as well.”

The defence secretary, Ben Wallace, was caught on camera apparently contradicting Mr Johnson’s claim that it was “completely untrue” that the suspension of parliament was linked to Brexit.

Talking to his French counterpart Florence Parly at an EU summit in Helsinki, Mr Wallace said that parliament had been “awful” at making clear what it wanted from Brexit, adding: “That’s the reality. So eventually any leader has to, you know, try... I don’t know what the outcome will be.”

Downing Street later said the cabinet minister had “misspoken” and was not involved in discussions on calling a Queen’s Speech for 14 October.

No 10 revealed that the prime minister’s chief Brexit negotiator, David Frost, agreed on his trip to Brussels on Wednesday that talks will be “intensified” during September, with twice-weekly meetings beginning next week.

But aides conceded that the two sides “remain some distance apart” on key issues including the controversial Irish border backstop, which Mr Johnson insists must be removed.

The prime minister said he was “encouraged” by conversations with European leaders in Berlin, Paris and Biarritz last week to believe a withdrawal deal could be reached.

“I have said right from my first day in office that we are ready to work in an energetic and determined way to get a deal done,” said the prime minister. “While I have been encouraged with my discussions with EU leaders over recent weeks that there is a willingness to talk about alternatives to the anti-democratic backstop, it is now time for both sides to step up the tempo. The increase in meetings and discussions is necessary if are to have a chance of agreeing a deal for when we leave on 31 October, no ifs no buts.”

EU negotiator, Michel Barnier, poured cold water on prospects of Brussels giving up the backstop, tweeting: “In all circumstances, the EU will continue to protect the interests of its citizens and companies, as well as the conditions for peace and stability on the island of Ireland. It is our duty and our responsibility.”