London, Sep 9 (IANS) UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is reportedly planning to sabotage the “Remainer plot” to stop a no-deal Brexit by sending a letter to the EU requesting an extension, as the new law requires, and then in another missive explaining why they should ignore it, a media report said.
On Monday, a Bill passed by opposition parties and Conservative rebels will receive Royal Assent. It insists that if a deal is not reached, Johnson must agree to postpone Brexit for at least three months, the Daily Mail said in its report.
On Sunday, Johnson bunkered down in Chevening, the Foreign Secretary’s country residence, with his closest aides.
One plan under consideration to prevent the three month extension is for the Prime Minister to send an additional letter alongside the request to extend Article 50, setting out the government’s position that they did not want a delay and want to leave on October 31.
France has already suggested it could veto lengthening the talks, with French Foreign Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, telling the media: “We are not going to do this (extend the deadline) every three months.”
On Sunday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab indicated that the government would not go down without a fight, saying Johnson was “sticking to his guns” to get the country “out of this rut”.
In a separate interview, Home Secretary Sajid Javid said Johnson would not ask for an extension at the EU Council on October 17 and 18.
Describing Monday’s Bill as an attempt to “kneecap” Britain’s negotiating position, he said ministers would “look at our options'”on October 19.
–IANS
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