UK MPs fear Queen could be dragged into Brexit mess

Threats to prorogue parliament could force the Queen to intervene to break Brexit impasse.

A threat to prorogue parliament by Dominic Raab, right, could see the Queen forced to intervene in the Brexit mess.

The Queen risks being pulled into a “terrible conflict” over Brexit, it was claimed, after a Tory leadership contender refused to rule out suspending parliament to force through a no-deal exit.

Hardline Brexiteers have called for the new prime minister to end the parliamentary session so that MPs are powerless to block a no-deal departure from the EU on October 31.

Dominic Raab, the former Brexit secretary, is the only contender so far to say that he would consider proroguing parliament — bringing the session to an end — to prevent MPs forcing the government into another delay. Such a move would require the prime minister to go to Buckingham Palace to seek the Queen’s permission.

His comments provoked a row, with a succession of MPs warning of the dangerous consequences of such a move.

Mel Stride, who is backing Michael Gove for the leadership, said: “I do think that Her Majesty should be kept out of the politics of our parliament, and I am sure that will be a matter that will be at the forefront of those who toy with those decisions in the future.”

Matt Hancock, the health secretary, who is standing for the leadership, wrote to his rivals saying: “To suspend parliament explicitly to pursue a course of action against its wishes is not a serious policy of a prime minister in the 21st century. What kind of message would this send around the world about our values when so many have given so much for the rights of democratic freedom?”

Rory Stewart, another candidate, said that proroguing parliament would be “unlawful, undemocratic and unachievable” and “the idea itself is profoundly offensive to our liberty, constitution and traditions”.

Boris Johnson, the frontrunner to succeed Theresa May, is among a number of candidates, including Mr Raab, who say that the UK must leave with or without an agreement at the end of the extension to the Article 50 process on October 31. It remains unclear how a new prime minister could deliver on that pledge if MPs from across parties work together to block a no-deal exit. Parliament has voted at least twice against that outcome.

Hannah White, deputy director of the Institute for Government, a think tank, said that asking the Queen to suspend parliament in those circumstances would risk embroiling her in “a terrible conflict”.

“The implication of Raab’s refusal to rule out this strategy is that he thinks it would potentially be legitimate to suspend parliament, not simply to let the Article 50 clock run down but to prevent MPs from making a decision he knows they would want to take.

“This would be extremely controversial, particularly in these circumstances because the government does not have a majority. Asking the Queen to give effect to this strategy would draw her into a massive political debate — something which No 10 and the Palace are normally at great pains to avoid.”

Dr White suggested that Buckingham Palace “would look for ways to limit the Queen being drawn into the process”, possibly by delaying long enough to allow parliament the opportunity to prevent prorogation. One way for MPs to do that could be through a confidence motion to bring down the government.

Dr White said: “The effect of attempting to prorogue parliament to pursue a no-deal policy to which it has thus far been firmly opposed would likely be to prompt an election. That may even be the intention.”

In the Commons, John Bercow, the Speaker, insisted that he would not allow MPs to be sidelined. “Parliament will not be evacuated from the centre stage of the decision-making process on this important matter,” he said. “That’s simply not going to happen.”

Mr Raab’s stance on the issue became clear at a hustings organised by the One Nation group of centrist Tories on Wednesday.

Amber Rudd, the work and pensions secretary, a leading player in the One Nation group, said: “I think it’s outrageous to consider proroguing parliament. We are not Stuart kings” — an apparent reference to King Charles I, whose conflicts with parliament led to civil war and his eventual execution.

A supporter of Mr Raab said: “Dominic made clear that he would use every lever of the executive to ensure that the UK can leave the EU at the end of October.” Ruling out a no-deal Brexit or seeking an extension beyond October 31 meant “weakening our negotiating leverage”, the source said.

Mr Johnson, Mr Gove, Mr Hancock, Sajid Javid, Jeremy Hunt, Andrea Leadsom and Mr Stewart all ruled out proroguing parliament in initial hustings in recent days. Esther McVey could not be reached for her view on Thursday. Mrs Leadsom said that she had commissioned parliamentary clerks to look into the option as a potential contingency but unequivocally opposed its use.

The Times