Tory Remainers vowed to join forces with Labour in Parliament today in a bid to stop Boris Johnson pursuing a No Deal Brexit.
In a dramatic move last night, timed to coincide with Mr Johnson's leadership launch, Jeremy Corbyn will force a Commons vote on a plan designed to make it illegal for Theresa May's successor to take Britain out of the EU without a deal.
It comes as a poll predicted that Boris Johnson could win a majority of 140 seats in a general, assessing him the only leadership candidate capable of besting both Jeremy Cobryn on the left and Nigel Farage on the right.
The move to wrest control of Parliamentary business from the Government has the backing of former Tory Cabinet minister Sir Oliver Letwin, as well as all the Liberal Democrats, SNP and Greens.
International Development Secretary Rory Stewart indicated he supported Parliament's efforts to block No Deal, although he later said he would not vote for it after being warned he could face the sack.
The move follows an extraordinary decision by Commons Speaker John Bercow to allow Labour to table a Commons business motion, which would normally be the preserve of the Government.
Boris Johnson (pictured leaving his London home yesterday) will formally launch his leadership bid today as MPs muster to take his vaunted No Deal option off the table
With just one day of campaigning to go until the first round of voting to choose the new Tory leader tomorrow:
Mr Johnson today receives another boost as he wins the backing of Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay; Mr Johnson's public tally of MP backers rose to 69 – more than twice the number of his nearest rival; Leadership outsiders Andrea Leadsom, Rory Stewart and Mark Harper all launched their campaigns yesterday; Michael Gove stepped up his attack on Mr Johnson's tax plans, calling them 'insane'; European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said Brussels will not renegotiate the Brexit deal, regardless of who replaces Mrs May. A ComRes survey commissioned by The Telegraph found 27 per cent of the public believe Johnson 'has what it takes to be a good prime minister' compared with 14 per cent for Jeremy Hunt in second place. Analysis of the findings suggested Mr Johnson could command a majority of 140 Commons seats with just a third of the national vote.It came as Mrs May warned the Cabinet that Parliament would never allow her successor to take Britain out of the EU without a deal, regardless of the promises made by Mr Johnson or other leadership candidates.
Tory grandee Oliver Letwin (l) and Labour shadow Brexit Secretary Kier Starmer are co-signatories of the motion which could deprive a future PM of the No Deal negotiating strategy
During a fractious meeting of her top team, the Prime Minister said: 'There were as many people, if not more, on the Stop No Deal side as there were in the ERG [group of Eurosceptic Tory MPs] who would not support my deal. My successor is going to have the same problem.'
One senior Tory last night accused Mr Bercow, who has spoken out against Brexit in the past, of 'constitutional vandalism'.
But his decision means MPs will be asked to vote on a Commons motion today which would give pro-Remain MPs control of the parliamentary timetable on June 25. Labour said MPs would then 'have the chance to introduce legislation that could help avoid the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal'.
The legislation is expected to focus on ruling out the option of suspending Parliament to push through No Deal, which has been floated by leadership contenders Dominic Raab and Esther McVey. But a Tory source involved in the move last night said further legislation would follow if any new PM tried to pursue a No Deal Brexit.
Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay outside Downing Street
Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay last night weighed in behind Boris Johnson's leadership campaign as the former foreign secretary pledged to take Britain out of the EU in October, come what may.
Mr Johnson will use his long-awaited campaign launch today to warn that the Conservative Party will 'kick the bucket' if it fails to deliver Brexit by October 31.
The odds-on favourite to succeed Theresa May will warn that 'delay means defeat'.
Last night his campaign significant boost with the backing of Mr Barclay, the most senior Cabinet minister to date to support his bid for power.
Mr Barclay, who has responsibility for preparing the UK for a possible No Deal Brexit, said Mr Johnson was best placed to lead Britain out of the EU.
'As Brexit Secretary I have seen first-hand the challenges the Government has faced in ensuring that we honour the result of the referendum and leave the European Union,' he said.
'We must leave on the October 31 – any further delays will continue to fracture public trust in not only our democratic system but also the Conservative Party.
'We need a leader who will deliver Brexit and who has the ability to defeat both Corbyn and Farage. We also need to seize the global opportunities of Brexit and renew a sense of optimism in the potential it offers. The candidate best placed to do that is Boris Johnson and he has my full support.'
Mr Johnson, who has not
