Brexit block: Sadiq Khan urges London MPs to do ‘whatever it takes’ to stop no deal
LONDON Mayor Sadiq Khan has made a desperate, last-ditch bid to block a no-deal Brexit by writing to every London MP asking them to back Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as caretaker Prime Minister.
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Mr Khan has even written to Zac Goldsmith, the Tory MP for Richmond, the man he defeated in 2016, as he urged Parliamentarians to do “whatever it takes” to prevent the UK leaving the bloc without a withdrawal agreement in place. Speaking to Politico’s Playbook bulletin in Poland, Mr Khan said MPs should be willing to put Mr Corbyn in Number 10 if necessary in order to stop no deal.
We’ve got to put aside our party differences to work to avoid no deal
He also backed the idea of a Remain Alliance with rival pro-EU parties in the event that a snap general election is called before October 31, the day Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed to take the UK out of the EU “do or die”.
He said: “We’ve got to put aside our party differences to work to avoid no deal.
“I think it will happen organically.
“Up until we’ve resolved the issue of Brexit, I think parties of certain values and certain beliefs should work together.”
Mr Khan accused Mr Johnson of “running scared” by asking the Queen to suspend Parliament.
He also described as “astonishing” the suggestion, made by Michael Gove, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, during yesterday’s Andrew Marr show on BBC1, that the Government may ignore an instruction by Parliament to seek an extension to Article 50.
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He explained: “It’s a slippery slope. What they mean by ‘take back control’ is the executive seizing power.
“Just think about the leaders around the world that do that, and ask yourself - do we as a country want to be in the same company as those guys?”
Mr Khan’s remarks followed a tweet last which said: “Boris Johnson will try to shut down Parliament next week in order to deliver a catastrophic no-deal Brexit.
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“Running roughshod over our democracy in order to ruin the life chances of future generations.
“Disgraceful. It must be stopped.”
Labour’s Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer has likewise criticised Mr Gove’s remarks, and is also united with Mr Khan is seeking to stop a no-deal Brexit.
Tweeting after the former Environment Secretary’s comments, Mr Starmer tweeted: “For ministers not to confirm that this Government will accept and comply with legislation lawfully passed is breathtaking.
The Prime Minister must make a statement on this straightaway. No Government is above the law.”
Interviewed by Mr Marr after Mr Gove’s appearance, Mr Starmer also outlined his plans to prevent no deal, saying MPs would put a Bill before the House of Commons in the next few days.
He said: “The legislation is intended to ensure we don’t leave without a deal, that will require an extension.
“The length of the extension is secondary, frankly.
“We have simply got to stop us leaving without a deal.”