Boris Johnson in war of words against Tory Brexit rebels as he warns MPs have 'choice' to side with him or Jeremy Corbyn

The comments came ahead of an expected Commons clash on Tuesday 
Boris Johnson could sack rebel MPs who try to stop a no-deal Brexit
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Stephanie Cockroft1 September 2019
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Boris Johnson has launched a war of words against would-be Tory Brexit rebels, warning they have a "fundamental choice" to choose him or Jeremy Corbyn.

Speaking ahead of an expected showdown Commons clash this week, the Prime Minister said a cross-party alliance of opposition MPs risked plunging the country into chaos, ahead of a showdown Commons clash.

MPs opposed to a no-deal Brexit are expected to try and seize control of the Parliamentary agenda this week to push through legislation that would force the PM to seek a Brexit extension beyond 31 October.

Downing Street has ratcheted-up the rhetoric and branded the group "deceitful and underhand".

In his first newspaper interview since becoming Prime Minister in July, Mr Johnson told the Sunday Times: "I just say to everybody in the country, including everyone in parliament, the fundamental choice is this: are you going to side with Jeremy Corbyn and those who want to cancel the referendum?

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses an audience in Glasgow
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"Are you going to side with those who want to scrub the democratic verdict of the people - and plunge this country into chaos."

Leader of the Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg, a staunch ally of Mr Johnson, also strongly attacked such an action.

Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Mr Rees-Mogg said: "They dare not use the confidence procedures because they know that Jeremy Corbyn is too unpopular, and therefore they seek deceitful ends by underhand means."

Parliament shut down protests across the UK - In Pictures

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The comments came amid reports that Conservative MPs who vote against a no-deal option when Parliament returns this week could be barred from standing in a snap general election.

Philip Hammond hit back , tweeting: "If true, this would be staggeringly hypocritical: 8 members of the current cabinet have defied the party whip this year.

"I want to honour our 2017 manifesto which promised a "smooth and orderly" exit and a "deep and special partnership" with the EU.

"Not an undemocratic No Deal."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson - In pictures

PMQ session in London
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Some 20 Tory former ministers are considering standing at the next election as independent Conservatives rather than back a no-deal option, the Sunday Times said.

A Government spokesperson said: "All options for party management are under consideration, but first and foremost the PM hopes MPs will deliver on the referendum result and back him on Parliament."

It came as tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets across Britain on Saturday to demonstrate against Mr Johnson's plans to suspend Parliament for up to five weeks ahead of the return of MPs from their summer recess.

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has also insisted he would not scrap the Irish backstop proposals in the Withdrawal Agreement that Mr Johnson has branded unacceptable.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Barnier insisted the measures, aimed at preventing a hard border across Ireland, represented the "maximum flexibility" that Brussels can offer.

Meanwhile, the controversy over the abrupt sacking of Chancellor Sajid Javid's special adviser Sonia Khan by the PM's key aide Dominic Cummings continued.

It is understood that the Chancellor was not informed of the dismissal beforehand and Ms Khan was escorted out of Downing Street by a police officer after being fired.

Yvette Cooper, the Labour chair of the House of Commons home affairs select committee, told The Observer: "Government advisers must not abuse their power by drawing the police into heavy- handed political stunts. This needs to be reviewed by the cabinet secretary and the Metropolitan police straight away."

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