Polish-born MP accused of 'reckless' attempt to block Brexit delay
Polish-born Brexiteer Daniel Kawczynski makes a "formal" request to the government there for no extension to Article 50.
Thursday 24 January 2019 06:03, UK
A Conservative MP has been accused of "colluding with a foreign government to overturn the will of the British parliament".
Daniel Kawczynski, who was born in Poland, told Sky News he faced a barrage of abuse for asking the Polish government to veto any request for the EU to delay Brexit.
He vowed to see off any attempts to "obstruct" the UK leaving the EU on 29 March, as it is due to by default.
Parliament is in deadlock after overwhelmingly voting down Prime Minister Theresa May's divorce deal with Brussels.
MPs claim that the only thing there is a majority for, though, is Britain leaving the EU with some sort of deal.
But if none is ratified by the House of Commons, the splinter will happen automatically - without any kind of agreement.
Mr Kawczynski tried to head off attempts by a Labour and Tory backbencher to delay Brexit until the end of 2019 if no deal has passed in parliament by the end of February.
He tweeted: "Today I have formally asked Polish government to veto any motions by EU to allow extension of Article 50."
The Shrewsbury MP was inundated with replies, Labour's David Lammy calling it "extraordinary reckless".
Mr Lammy said: "Do you realise you are lobbying a foreign power to block the British Parliament from working in the national interest?
"Tell me with a straight face you care about parliamentary sovereignty."
Mr Kawczynski defended his comments by saying Remainer MPs had been to Brussels to meet with senior EU figures.
He told Sky News: "They have detracted from the official British line, which the prime minster has been putting forward on the part of the British people.
"And they have done everything possible to try to impede Brexit.
"Of course we're going to reach out to like-minded, Eurosceptic politicians from across the EU to protect the British people from the Remainers MPs and ensure they get what they voted for."
On Tuesday, Poland's foreign minister deviated from the official EU line to declare that the backstop to prevent a hard border re-forming on the island of Ireland could be limited to five-years.
It could currently apply indefinitely, much to the ire of Brexiteers who voted in droves against the deal put to parliament last week.