MPs Vote To Force Ministers To Publish Secret No-Deal Brexit Papers

Grieve said: “The House is about to be prorogued for five weeks, two weeks after we return is the anticipated date on which we are going to leave the European Union.

“There is much which is left undebated and, in particular, we are not going to have an opportunity to ask necessary questions of the government both in relation to its own prepared documents under Yellowhammer, which it has prepared for its own use in relation to the risks of a no deal.

“And, in addition to that, we are not going to have the opportunity to ask what I think are the necessary and unfortunately searching questions about the government’s motives in proroguing this House and the potential difference between what they have said in public in this matter and what the evidence suggests is the reality.”

Earlier, Commons speaker John Bercow, who announced his intention to quit on Monday, defended his decision to allow the motion to be debated and voted on under the Commons standing order 24 rule which allows emergency debates.

Bercow has faced criticism for months for bending parliamentary rules, which has allowed opposition and rebel MPs greater opportunity to direct the government and shape the Brexit debate.

And after Tory whip Graham Stuart interrupted him to complain, the Speaker launched a blistering attack.

“Sometimes you get these pop-up characters who think they understand these matters on the basis of minimal familiarity with the said standing orders and presume to say that the rules have been broken,” Bercow said.

“They are entitled to their opinions, but they suffer from the notable disadvantage of being completely wrong. I know what the rules are and what they allow and this is absolutely in keeping with the standing orders.

“If there are people who don’t like the subject matter and would prefer it not to be aired and judge that it is inconvenient, they are perfectly entitled to their view, but it has got nothing to do with procedural propriety. Don’t tell me, young man, from a sedentary position what I can and cannot say.

“If you are not interested, leave the chamber. I am not remotely interested in your pettifogging objection chuntered inelegantly from a sedentary position. The position is as I have described it and quite frankly, young man, you can like it or lump it.”

Michael Gove, the cabinet minister in charge of planning for no-deal Brexit, said: “This is a fishing expedition where every single communication to do with prorogation is being sought and it takes a coach and horses through our data protection legislation.“

He added: “Their desire to rifle through private correspondences of advisers is to set aside legal precedent and the rights of citizens.” 

On Operation Yellowhammer, Gove said: “The government is absolutely committed to sharing with this House as much as we can.”

Hours later, Corybn’s own motion on following the rule of law was passed without a vote.

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab had told MPs: “This government will always respect the rule of law. That’s been our clear position consistently and frankly it is outrageous that it is even in doubt.”