Major blasts Tory candidates suggesting bypassing Parliament

Former Prime Minister Sir John Major has hit out at Tory leadership candidates who have suggested they could suspend, or even prorogue Parliament in order to pass a no deal Brexit.

Sir John said such a move would be "dangerous territory" and "gold plated hypocrisy" from those championing Parliamentary sovereignty.

Elsewhere, former minister Sir Oliver Letwin, who has been behind a series of cross-party moves to block a no-deal departure, said he could not think of any further opportunity for Parliament to intervene before Britain is due to leave on October 31.

His warning came after the Commons narrowly voted on Wednesday to reject a Labour motion – backed by other opposition parties – which would have enabled MPs to take control of the business of the House on June 25.

If it had passed, it would have given MPs the opportunity to table legislation with a view to stopping no deal.

Following the vote, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said Labour would continue to look for other mechanisms for Parliament to prevent a no deal.

However, Sir Oliver said he could not think how, under Commons rules, that could be achieved unless the next prime minister chose to give MPs the opportunity to have a say.