Gove refuses to say if Government would abide by legislation blocking no deal

Cabinet heavyweight Michael Gove has refused to confirm the Government would abide by legislation blocking a no-deal Brexit if it is forced through by Tory rebels and the opposition this week.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster also said that some food prices would increase in the event of withdrawal from the EU without an agreement with Brussels.

Pressed repeatedly on whether the Government would abide by a successful bid by Commons opponents to pass legislation preventing a no-deal withdrawal on October 31, Mr Gove told BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show: “Let’s see what the legislation says.

“You’re asking me about a pig in a poke.

“And I will wait to see what legislation the opposition may try to bring forward.”

Mr Gove added: “For me, the most important thing is to bear in mind actually, we already have legislation in place which an overwhelming majority of MPs voted for.

“We already have an EU Withdrawal Act, we already have the notice on Article 50, the process by which we leave the EU.”

The comments come ahead of another pivotal week in the Commons and an expected clash when opponents of no deal look set to try to seize control of the parliamentary agenda to push through legislation delaying Brexit beyond October 31.

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Gove’s stance was “breathtaking”.

He 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.”

Tory MP Guto Bebb said Mr Gove’s comments were “a disgrace to our democracy”.

The former minister added: “This Government’s unprecedented willingness to flout the rules is a disgrace to our democracy.

“Not only are they suspending Parliament to try to force through a disastrous no-deal but now they are suggesting that even if Parliament passed a law requiring the Government to avoid no-deal, they might simply ignore it.

“Our very democracy is now under threat from Boris Johnson and his Government.”

Jon Trickett, Labour’s shadow minister for the Cabinet Office, said any move to ignore an act of Parliament “would be a full-blown attack on our constitution”.

Mr Johnson is meeting Tory whips on Sunday to discuss tactics for the week ahead, a Government source told PA news agency.

The source said: “The PM has made clear he will deliver Brexit on October 31 come what may and in all circumstances.

“We are not commenting on hypothetical legislative outcomes.”

Leading Tory rebel and former justice secretary David Gauke had said he was holding discussions with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday regarding the Brexit agenda.

However, Government sources later said that the meeting had been cancelled due to diary issues.

A one-on-one meeting with the PM has been offered to former chancellor Philip Hammond, sources said.

Referring to reports that Tories who oppose a no-deal option could lose the party whip, Mr Gauke told Sky News: “Sometimes there is a point where… you have to judge between your own personal interests and the national interest.

“And the national interest has to come first.

“But, I hope it doesn’t come to that, and I hope cooler and calmer heads will look at this and think that trying to split the Conservative Party in this way is not a sensible way forward for the Conservative Party, or indeed for the country.”

Pressed on whether there would be shortages of fresh food as a result of a no-deal Brexit, Mr Gove said: “Everyone will have the food they need.”

He added: “No, there will be no shortages of fresh food.”

Asked if food prices would increase, Mr Gove said: “I think that there are a number of economic factors in play.

“Some prices may go up. Other prices will come down.”

Asked if he planned to try to force through a Brexit extension beyond October 31, Mr Gauke said: “I think the detail will become very apparent in the next few days.

“But I think the important thing is that Parliament should not be excluded from this process.

“I don’t believe that no deal has a mandate from the 2016 referendum. I don’t think it has got the support of Parliament.

“And the problem is that if we don’t act in this week, I think that it is likely that Parliament will be excluded from this process.”

International Development Secretary Alok Sharma told Tory rebels to be “clear whose side you are on”.

In a warning to Conservative colleagues who are considering joining Opposition attempts to pass legislation to block a no-deal Brexit, Mr Sharma said they need to “stand with the people” and deliver Brexit.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Sharma said: “You need to be very clear whose side you are on.”

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the Prime Minister and Government are “insulting the intelligence of the British people” in their explanation for suspending Parliament for up to five weeks until mid-October.

“Just because a Prime Minister is worried that they’ll lose a vote in Parliament, to then use the tactic of closing down Parliament, in our parliamentary democracy, is unacceptable,” he said.

Mr McDonnell described the Prime Minister as being “like a dictator”.

Sir Keir said Jeremy Corbyn should be given a chance to form a government if the Prime Minister lost a confidence vote.

He added: “It is quite right that as Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn should try and form a government.”

Asked what would happen if Mr Corbyn could not command a majority in the Commons, Sir Keir added: “If he can’t, we will address that when we get there.”