'cowards!'
Minister reveals third election vote is ON as he slams cowardly Labour ‘turkeys’ in devastating rage
ATTORNEY General Geoffrey Cox has revealed plans for a THIRD election vote - as he ripped into disgraceful Labour MPs for stopping the PM from going to the people.
After Boris Johnson dashed back from New York to address furious MPs this afternoon, the Cabinet minister told the Commons to watch out for an "election motion that will be coming before the House shortly".
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Westminster is reeling today after the dramatic ruling from the Supreme Court yesterday which ruled Boris Johnson's advice to the Queen on shutting down Parliament was unlawful.
As tensions ran high in Westminster on another dramatic day:
- MPs called for Boris to quit as he flew in from New York and dashed back to No10
- Remainers went back to the Commons this morning and immediately vowed to begin trying to wreck Brexit once again.
- Gloating Speaker Bercow was cheered and Lib Dems whooped with joy as Parliament re-opened
Attorney General Sir Geoffrey launched a furious rage into Labour election blockers, tearing them to shreds over their cowardly stance and deeming them "immoral".
Just hours before the PM was set to address Parliament, he fumed: “This Parliament is a dead Parliament. It should no longer sit. It has no moral right to sit on these green benches.
"Given the opportunity, given since I am asked, let me tell them the truth - they could vote no confidence at any time but they are too cowardly.
"They could agree to a motion to allow this house to dissolve but they are too cowardly.
"This parliament should have the courage to face the electorate. But it won’t.
"Because so many of them are really all about preventing us from leaving the European Union.
"The time is coming Mr Speaker, when even these turkeys won’t be able to prevent Christmas!"
The time is coming Mr Speaker, when even these turkeys won’t be able to prevent Christmas!
Geoffrey Cox
The booming Cabinet minister blasted Mr Corbyn for repeatedly refusing to vote for an election - despite calling for one for years.
The Attorney General, who admitted the Government did "get it wrong" over the legal advice given during the court case, said Labour MPs were "clinging to their green benches for another few undeserved years" by not backing a fresh vote.
Cabinet ministers have called for the PM to suspend – or prorogue Parliament – for a second time if he loses the vote.
Parliament sitting again also throws up in the air the Tory party's conference in Manchester, which is set to begin on Sunday.
THIRD TIME LUCKY?
But the minister revealed that the next election vote could be different from the last two.
Boris could decide to bring forward a short "one line bill" to scrap the Fixed Term Parliaments Act - or to bring forward an early vote on top of the current rules.
At the moment two thirds of MPs are needed to call an early election under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act - as it's usually once every five years.
But ditching the law completely would only need the support of half of the House of Commons.
Labour has insisted they won't vote for an election until after a Brexit delay has been secured and implemented after October 17.
However, the SNP are urging Mr Corbyn to try and topple the PM now, and have said they won't vote down an early election.
Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgeon said this afternoon: "Labour will force a General Election once the extension preventing No Deal is nailed down.
"That could be right after the EU summit. Or sooner if the extension is sorted before."
LIB DEM PLOT
His comments come after talks between the Lib Dems and Labour about forcing Boris to seek an extension earlier.
Lib Dem boss Jo Swinson said today: “Parliament can be innovative and inventive.
“We saw in September the House of Commons take control of the order paper to pass legislation.
“That's the type of way forward which may well enable us to take the threat of a No Deal Brexit off the table much sooner than the 19 October."
If the plan to take control of Parliament succeeds again they could force Boris to seek an extension to Article 50 even sooner - even as early as next week.
But other MPs were in a more jovial mood today.
One ex-minister, Tobias Ellwood, joked that his plan would be "lock" MPs in the chamber "until a vote to leave the EU is passed".
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Many MPs see the resumed sitting as their last chance to stop us leaving the bloc while time ticks down to the deadline on October 31.
Diane Abbott told reporters that Labour is plotting with other parties to "improve the Benn bill" - which stops us leaving with No Deal if an agreement isn't in place next month - to try and make sure Boris can't wriggle out of it.
Labour has vowed to force its publication by passing a Commons motion known as a humble address.
The move is backed by former Cabinet minister Amber Rudd and the sacked Tory rebels.
A cross-party group has agreed to “drown” the Government with requests for information with questions on the collapse of Thomas Cook and the ongoing violence in Hong Kong.
They will not, however, ask for an immediate no confidence vote.
A defiant Mr Johnson has refused to quit as PM despite Mr Corbyn – and other opposition ministers – calling for his head.
Yesterday Boris said he “strongly disagreed” with the ruling of the 11 justices at the Supreme Court but vowed he was going nowhere.
Boris shrugged off today's drama, adding: "Tomorrow’s just another day in Parliament.”
Smug Remainer MPs APPLAUD themselves as they return to Parliament pledging to wreck Boris' Brexit plans
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A defiant Michael Gove has refused to "apologise" for the chaos the government's Parliament shutdown has caused.
He told the BBC told: "I don't think that the Government should apologise for having a strong domestic agenda, I don't think we should apologise also for seeking to advance our exit from the European Union.
"I don't think the Government should apologise also for saying that we are attempting to honour the democratic will of the British people."
Despite Boris losing all six parliamentary votes during his brief tenure as PM, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said he was a "born winner".
"I think it is only fair to say that Boris is the Pep Guardiola of British politics," Mr Gove said.
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What happens next now MPs are back in Parliament?
TODAY MPs have returned to Westminster in chaos after the Supreme Court ordered Boris' shutdown of Parliament as "unlawful".
In effect, it means that Parliament was never really shut down and just had a short break.
Ministers will give five statements to MPs today in the House of Commons - including on Thomas Cook, Brexit and Iran.
Boris will then address MPs about the damning Supreme Court verdict and will answer their burning questions.
The PM's spokesperson said this morning he will address the next steps.Boris could try and shut down Parliament yet again - but this is unlikely after the verdict yesterday.
Or he could try and secure a short recess for a few days so the Tories can hold their conference in Manchester next week.
SNP MPs are pushing for a vote of no confidence in Boris to try and topple the Government, but Labour aren't on board yet.
They don't want to risk an election where Britain could crash out of the EU without a deal on October 31 in the middle of the campaign.
At the moment the law insists that the PM should seek an extension if they don't have a deal by October 17.
However, Boris has vowed not to ask for a third delay under any circumstances.
EU leaders have said they will only grant one for a specific purpose - like an election or a second referendum.
But if they are faced with the prospect of a No Deal Brexit, it's likely they would green-light another delay.
Boris has insisted he WON'T resign despite the chaos but has no majority in the Commons to get anything done.
And without a Queen's Speech, he can't bring forward any new laws either.He's still hoping to secure a deal at the October EU summit, which he will bring back for MPs just days before the Brexit deadline.
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