Brexit: Boris Johnson clashes with party rebels over no-deal plans
Boris Johnson stares down his own party members who want to sabotage his no-deal Brexit plans as a leading British politician plans to visit Australia for trade talks.
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British parliament is set for an explosive week as Prime Minister Boris Johnson stares down his own party members who want to sabotage his no-deal Brexit plans.
Parliament returns on Tuesday for a brief session before Mr Johnson prorogues, or cancels, sittings until October 14.
A group of anti-Brexit politicians, including Conservative MPs, will try to ram through legislation this week to delay the UK’s departure from Europe beyond October 31.
But Mr Johnson has warned that taking a no-deal Brexit off the table means that Europe would not make any concessions.
It comes as News Corp understands plans are being drawn up for UK international trade secretary Liz Truss to visit Australia.
Ms Truss first floated the plan in July after speaking with Trade Minister Simon Birmingham but it is understood they have significantly progressed.
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian visited Ms Truss in No. 10 Downing Street last month.
Meanwhile, anti-Brexit campaigners only have this week to stop a no-deal Brexit or call a vote of no-confidence in Mr Johnson that could lead to a general election.
Matthew Lesh, head of research at the London-based think tank the Adam Smith Institute, said: “A majority of parliamentarians are clearly against a No Deal.
“At this point it’s a question of whether they have the ability in Parliament to put up legislation to block a No Deal. If they do it would seriously undermine Boris’ negotiating leverage with the EU, which depends on the ability to walk away.”
Mr Lesh said that Australia would be able to sign a trade deal with the UK quickly if there was a clean break from Europe, either with or without a deal.
“For Australia, a close relationship with the European Union — as proposed in Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement and political — seriously undermines the potential for a post-Brexit trade deal,” he said.
“What would be even worse, both for the UK and for Australia, is if the UK joins a customs union with the EU. This would mean the EU setting the UK’s trade policy, which would prevent the UK from negotiating an independent trade deal with Australia.”
Britain has previously rejected a Withdrawal Agreement negotiated with the European Union, which led to former prime minister Theresa May’s resignation.
Germany and France gave Mr Johnson 30 days to come up with an alternative solution for the hated Irish backstop, which Britain has said is the major sticking point.
Elizabeth Ames, Acting National Director of the Britain-Australia Society, said she “believed that Boris and the majority of his team want a deal”.
“A no-deal scenario is likely to lead to an election sooner rather than later which the Conservative Party is not guaranteed to win despite currently leading in polls,” she said.
“However, in order to convince the EU to amend the current deal he needs them to believe he would go through with no deal, it’s a high wire strategy.”
Ms Ames said a deal would be better for Australian businesses based in the UK.
stephen.drill@news.co.uk
Originally published as Brexit: Boris Johnson clashes with party rebels over no-deal plans