WATCH: Boris Johnson's top adviser hits back at Tory MP Dominic Grieve over no-deal Brexit
2 min read
Boris Johnson’s top adviser has hit back at Dominic Grieve after he branded his claims on a no-deal Brexit “arrogant” and “ignorant”.
Dominic Cummings’ first public intervention since taking up the Number 10 post came after he was criticised for insisting that MPs could not stop a hard exit from the EU by the 31 October deadline.
Former attorney-general and vocal opponent of Brexit, Mr Grieve, said the claim displayed the former Vote Leave campaign chief's "characteristic arrogance and ignorance".
When asked about the Tory MP’s remarks outside his home, Mr Cummings told Sky News: “I don’t think I am arrogant, I don’t know very much about very much.
“Mr Grieve will see what he’s right about.”
When asked how preparations for a no-deal Brexit were going, he responded: “Great. The most simple thing is the Prime Minister believes that politicians don’t get to choose what votes they respect, that’s the critical issue.”
The exchange comes after a Daily Telegraph report claiming Mr Cummings told colleagues that Mr Johnson would refuse to stand down if Conservative Remain-supporters teamed up with Labour to bring down the Government.
Mr Grieve told Sky News yesterday that it appeared the PM’s top official did not understand how the “constitution works or how the fixed term parliament act works”.
“There’s nothing that the current Prime Minister could do to prevent such an administration being formed if the majority of the House of Commons wanted it.
“But if I understand what Mr Cummings has been saying, he’s been saying that under no circumstances would it be possible to prevent no-deal taking place and an exit on 31 October because the Government would simply carry on.
“Well I’m afraid that is a mixture of his arrogance with ignorance. It’s simply wrong.”
Mr Johnson has vowed to take the UK out of the European Union “do or die” by the Halloween deadline.
Mr Grieve had previously talked up the idea of an anti-Brexit government of national unity taking over if Mr Johnson loses a vote of no confidence after Parliament returns from recess in September.
The suggestion was shot down by Shadow Cabinet minister Rebecca Long-Bailey however, who said such a move would hand the PM a "get out of jail free card".
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