• HE has the face of Mr Punch and eyes like a robber’s horse, he is an MP and he would bring down the government to prevent no deal. A look back at history rewards the time spent.

The Supreme Court ruled that only Parliament could authorise the triggering of Article 50. In response, the government introduced the European Union (Notice of With­drawal) Bill 2017 to confer on the prime minister the power to trigger Article 50.

The House of Commons passed this by a large majority, so what of the team MP Jeremy Corbyn picked to shadow the Department for Exiting the European Union?

By her efforts Gina Miller gave Parliament the power to take control of the Article 50 process. An amendment should have been tabled that the act would reserve to Parliament the right to require the prime minister to secure agreement from the EU if a deal between the UK and EU was not approved by a simple majority of the UK.

Then at what would otherwise be the expiry of the two-year Article 50 term Parliament would extend that term until a deal was approved. In the meantime the status quo would continue.

Sadly, the responsibility to protect the country from a no-deal outcome was ducked. To have tried and failed would have been the least anyone could expect but to not even try?

The House of Lords approached the matter with the seriousness it deserved. It did propose amendments and voted them through, including “prior approval of both houses of Parliament shall be required in relation to any decision of the prime minister that the UK shall leave the EU without an agreement as to the applicable terms”. This would ensure Parliament could prevent no deal.

The House of Commons voted against this by a large majority and the bill was enacted without amendment. These MPs should look at themselves and end their competition to be the holiest of the holier than thou. A no-deal outcome will be the sole responsibility of this most sanctimonious House of Planks.

STEPHEN SOUTHAM
Mildmay Grove North, N1