Brexit: MPs can still stop Johnson's no deal by bringing down government, insists Grieve

Remainer says he would join drive to prevent UK’s departure from EU without agreement

An influential Tory Remainer MP is insisting parliament could yet bring down the government to prevent a no-deal Brexit masterminded by Boris Johnson.

Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general, joined Labour in denying claims it’s too late to block the prime minister’s plan.

And he said that, if it came to it, he would be part of the push to bring down Mr Johnson’s administration to prevent a no-deal departure.

Dominic Cummings, a senior aide to Mr Johnson, has reportedly told Tory MPs their leader could still take the UK out of the European Union even if pro-remainers forced a general election, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

However, Mr Grieve said Mr Cummings, who masterminded the Vote Leave campaign, was “the master of disinformation”.

“He’s right when he points out that for the House of Commons to prevent a no-deal Brexit against the wishes of an administration that is hell-bent on delivering it come what may, there are a whole series of obstacles,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House programme.

“So he has a point, but I think he may also be missing the point that there are a number of things the House of Commons can do, including bringing down the government and setting up a new one in its place.”

Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health secretary, who also believes a no-deal Brexit can be stopped, said Labour was working with former ministers “rather foolishly” sacked by Mr Johnson.

“We are working with MPs across the House of Commons and we will work to stop no-deal,” he told Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday.

Mr Johnson needs the vote of every one of his MPs, with a majority of just one after the loss of the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election.

James Cleverly, the Tory chairman said Mr Johnson would not “initiate” a general election to boost his numbers.

Additional reporting by PA