John McDonnell: Boris Johnson could be in contempt of court over Brexit extension letter
20 October 2019, 09:57
Labour's John McDonnell has said Boris Johnson could be in contempt of Parliament or the courts and accused the PM of "behaving a bit like a spoilt brat" over Brexit.
The Prime Minister has written to the EU asking for a Brexit extension, as he was forced to by law. Mr Johnson's former request for an extension was not signed, which caused some commentators to suggest he was being disrespectful.
In a second letter to Donald Tusk, Mr Johnson contradicted the content of his first letter and said a delay to Brexit was not a good idea.
Writing to the EU the Prime Minister said he was only doing so because he was legally obliged to do so.
Speaking to Sophy Ridge on Sunday the Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the Prime Minister could be in contempt of Parliament or the courts. He added that Mr Johnson was "clearly trying to undermine the first letter and not signing the letter."
He went on to accuse the PM of "behaving a bit like a spoilt brat."
Speaking to Sky News he said: "Parliament made a decision, he should abide by it and this idea that you send another letter contradicting the first, I think it flies in the face of what both Parliament and the courts have decided."
Mr McDonnell said another Meaningful Vote on the deal on Monday would be "pointless" and a "political stunt" and advocated instead for the "real Parliamentary process of scrutinising that legislation".
