Johnson facing Brexit backlash
BORIS JOHNSON is facing Tory and Labour opposition to the Government’s assumption that Britain is now looking at a no-deal Brexit from the EU.
Scottish Tory chief Ruth Davidson and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn have both attacked the idea of quitting the bloc without an agreement on October 31.
The push back came as Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said the Government is “operating on the assumption” that Britain will leave the EU without a deal.
Writing in The Sunday Times, he said that while the aim was still to leave with a deal, the Government needed to prepare for every eventuality.
“With a new prime minister, a new government, and a new clarity of mission, we will exit the EU on October 31. No ifs. No buts. No more delay. Brexit is happening,” he said.
“The EU’s leaders have, so far, said they will not change their approach - it’s the unreformed withdrawal agreement, take it or leave it,” he added.
“We still hope they will change their minds, but we must operate on the assumption that they will not.”
Chancellor Sajid Javid has said there will be “significant extra funding” this week to get Britain “fully ready to leave” the EU on October 31, with or without a deal.
The additional spending will include financing one of the country’s “biggest ever public information campaigns” to ensure individuals and businesses are ready for a no-deal exit, Mr Javid told the Sunday Telegraph. “Under my leadership, the Treasury will have new priorities and will play its full role in helping to deliver Brexit,” he said.
“In my first day in office as Chancellor, I tasked officials to urgently identify where more money needs to be invested to get Britain fully ready to leave on October 31 deal or no deal.” He added that he planned to fund 500 new Border Force officers and look at new infrastructure around the country’s ports to minimise congestion and ensure goods can flow.
However, Ms Davidson said she would not support no deal.
The Scottish Conservative leader also insisted that her position in the Scottish Parliament exists independently of Westminster and that she does not have to sign any no-deal pledge to continue to serve.
Ms Davidson said: “Where I differ with the UK Government is on the question of a no-deal Brexit. I don’t think the UK Government should pursue a no-deal Brexit, and if it comes to it, I won’t support it.
“I wrote to tell the former prime minister Theresa May that last year and I confirmed my position to her successor when I spoke to him last week. As leader of the party in Scotland, my position exists independently of government. I don’t have to sign a nodeal pledge to continue to serve.”
Mr Corbyn would not say exactly when he would call a vote of no confidence against Mr Johnson, but said he would “look at the situation” when Parliament returns in September as he opposed no deal.