Boris Johnson refuses to rule out suspending parliament to push through Brexit
The Tory leadership contender says he is "not attracted" to the measure, but does not dismiss it entirely.
Thursday 27 June 2019 17:11, UK
Tory leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson has refused to rule out suspending parliament in order to force through Brexit.
Mr Johnson said he was "not attracted" to the measure, saying he wanted to deliver Britain's EU exit as a "proud representative democracy".
But he pointedly warned that it was essential MPs delivered on the 2016 referendum and finished the process after two delays.
"I think our colleagues really are starting to come together," he said at a digital hustings hosted by the party. "They are thinking about this in a very mature and sober way. I am not attracted to archaic devices like proroguing.
"Let's get this thing done as a proud representative democracy that asked the people of this country a question, that received a very clear answer, that promised faithfully to put that answer into effect and now we have got to do it."
He also rejected the idea of cancelling the summer break for MPs in order to allow for more time to sort out Brexit, suggesting they did not have the solution to the impasse.
"I think we can get this thing done without having to resort to such a desperate expedient," he said. "I am not necessarily convinced that parliament can sort out the problem that parliament has helped to create.
"Perhaps more sittings of parliament is not what we want."
Mr Johnson said he had confidence that a deal could be passed by MPs without having to choose between no-deal or another extension.
"I think the first thing is to recognise that politics has changed since March 29," he said. "I think that colleagues do see that we are facing, not just the Tory Party but also Labour, we are facing an existential threat.
"We all need to get this thing done and we need to move forward and that's why I think they will want to get Brexit over the line on October 31 and then move forward.
"And when that election comes eventually, I remind you that I think we need to be ready to wallop Corbyn for six."
:: Listen to the All Out Politics podcast on , , ,
Jeremy Hunt, meanwhile, dismissed a key aspect of his rival's Brexit strategy.
Both candidates have expressed confidence they can get a new deal through parliament before the 31 October deadline, but have not ruled out pursuing a no-deal exit.
Mr Johnson has suggested that an obscure piece of international trade law, called the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), could be employed in such a scenario, in order to prevent UK firms having to pay tariffs if they want to export to the EU.
Mr Hunt, the current foreign secretary, said the suggestion that this was a viable option had to be put to bed.
"I think we've got to knock this GATT 24 thing on the head," he told the event. "You can only get an agreement not to introduce tariffs if both sides agree to that."
Mr Hunt added: "So there isn't a no-deal route that would allow us to take advantage of GATT 24."
When it was pointed out to him that this was the opposite of what Mr Johnson has said, Mr Hunt responded: "I'm not going to try and get drawn into those kinds of comments and I certainly wouldn't say it's a lie because that suggests someone is doing something deliberately.
"And I just don't think we should get into that discussion but it is factually the case that you need both sides to consent to Article 24 of GATT."
The two contenders will face more hustings around the country over the next few weeks.
A winner in the contest will be announced on 23 July, with the victor expected to be installed in Downing Street the following day.