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Brexit: Gove refuses to rule out ignoring any law passed to stop no deal
Source: The Guardian
Brexit: Gove refuses to rule out ignoring any law passed to stop no deal
Labour and Tory rebels criticise comments as minister insists there will be no food shortages
Jessica Elgot Chief political correspondent
@jessicaelgot
Sun 1 Sep 2019 11.38 BST Last modified on Sun 1 Sep 2019 13.06 BST
Michael Gove has repeatedly refused to rule out the possibility that the government could ignore any law passed by parliament to stop a no-deal Brexit and insisted there would be no food shortages if the UK did crash out of the EU on 31 October.
The comments by Gove drew condemnation from both Labour, the SNP and Conservative rebels, including one Tory MP who said it showed democracy was under threat.
Gove, who is in charge of planning for no deal, did not commit to abide by any law which rebel MPs will attempt to pass this week that could mandate an extension to article 50 in the event of no deal.
“Let’s see what the legislation says,” he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show. “You’re asking me about a pig in a poke. And I will wait to see what legislation the opposition may try to bring forward.”
Asked again whether it would be extraordinary for a government not to abide by the law, Gove said: “We will see what the legislation says when it is brought forward. For me the point is that we already have legislation in place which an overwhelming majority of MPs voted for [article 50].”
-snip-
Labour and Tory rebels criticise comments as minister insists there will be no food shortages
Jessica Elgot Chief political correspondent
@jessicaelgot
Sun 1 Sep 2019 11.38 BST Last modified on Sun 1 Sep 2019 13.06 BST
Michael Gove has repeatedly refused to rule out the possibility that the government could ignore any law passed by parliament to stop a no-deal Brexit and insisted there would be no food shortages if the UK did crash out of the EU on 31 October.
The comments by Gove drew condemnation from both Labour, the SNP and Conservative rebels, including one Tory MP who said it showed democracy was under threat.
Gove, who is in charge of planning for no deal, did not commit to abide by any law which rebel MPs will attempt to pass this week that could mandate an extension to article 50 in the event of no deal.
“Let’s see what the legislation says,” he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show. “You’re asking me about a pig in a poke. And I will wait to see what legislation the opposition may try to bring forward.”
Asked again whether it would be extraordinary for a government not to abide by the law, Gove said: “We will see what the legislation says when it is brought forward. For me the point is that we already have legislation in place which an overwhelming majority of MPs voted for [article 50].”
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/01/brexit-gove-refuses-rule-out-ignoring-law-passed-stop-no-deal-