Last-Minute High Court Injunction To Block No-Deal Brexit Could Be MPs’ Final Play

It is unclear whether any injunction could bind the UK’s prime minister. 

Blackford added: “What is being suggested is absolutely unprecedented and you wouldn’t expect people to sit back and take this without looking at the mechanisms that they have at their disposal.” 

Labour’s initial proposal that it would table a vote of no-confidence in Johnson’s government, with no-deal opponents backing Corbyn as a caretaker PM, has been shelved as would-be rebel Tories are said to be reluctant to put their opponent in Number 10 – but the plan could still be used as a last resort, it is understood. 

Over the next two days, senior MPs will attempt to anticipate Johnson’s counter moves and unite around a strategy. 

Amid speculation Johnson wants to force a November 1 general election, MPs also fear that triggering a national poll could see the UK “fall out” of the EU during the campaign. 

Blackford said: “What we’ve agreed to do is use legislation as the route to removing the threat of leaving the European Union on a no-deal basis at the end of October.

“There are in effect a number of stages to that but in principle involves us seizing control of the agenda. 

“Parliament has to have the ability to bring forward legislation and we have to do that when parliament returns next week.” 

A joint statement from Labour, the SNP, Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru, Plaid Cymru and the Independent Group for Change reads: “The leaders of the opposition parties held a productive and detailed meeting on stopping a no-deal exit from the EU. 

“Jeremy Corbyn outlined legal advice he has received from Shadow Attorney General Shami Chakrabarti which calls Boris Johnson’s plans to suspend parliament to force through a no-deal ‘the gravest abuse of power and attack upon UK constitutional principle in living memory’. 

“The attendees agreed on the urgency to act together to find practical ways to prevent no-deal, including the possibility of passing legislation and a vote of no-confidence. 

“The party leaders agreed to further meetings.” 

A No 10 source accused the group of an attempt to sabotage the government. 

They told the BBC: “It’s utterly perverse that Corbyn and his allies are actively seeking to sabotage the UK’s position. This coalition of anti-democrats should be honest with the British public, they are against us leaving the EU no matter what.”