‘Our country is on the brink’: More than 100 MPs ask Boris Johnson to recall parliament
‘You have used the language of fascism and authoritarianism,’ cross-party group says to PM
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Your support makes all the difference.More than 100 MPs from all sides of the House of Commons have urged Boris Johnson to recall parliament immediately.
“Since the Second World War, parliament has been recalled multiple times in every decade for a wide range of political, security and economic reasons,” the MPs said, in a letter sent to the prime minister.
“Our country is on the brink of an economic crisis, as we career towards a no-deal Brexit which will have an immediate effect on food and medical supplies, damage our economy, jobs, the public finances, public services, universities and long-term economic security.
“A no-deal Brexit also threatens our crucial security cooperation to keep our country safe from criminals and terrorists.”
They added: “We face a national emergency, and parliament must be recalled now in August and sit permanently until 31 October, so that the voices of the people can be heard, and that there can be proper scrutiny of your government.”
The letter’s signatories include Guto Bebb and Dominic Grieve, who are both Conservative MPs.
Both are moderates and oppose a no-deal Brexit.
Several Labour MPs have signed the letter, alongside the Westminster leaders of the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and Change UK.
The Green Party’s Caroline Lucas has also signed the document.
As well as demanding that parliament is recalled, the signatories object to the prime minister’s populist style.
“In addition there is a creeping and disturbing populism taking over your discourse on the EU,” the group says.
“You have used the language of fascism and authoritarianism in terms such as ‘collaboration’ to describe parliamentary colleagues who have the temerity to disagree with you.”
The letter also criticises Dominic Cummings, the prime minister’s adviser, claiming that he has been “acting entirely unaccountably”.
“A true democrat should not fear such scrutiny,” the group adds, on the issue of recalling parliament.
“The question is whether you are one.”
Additional reporting by agencies
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