Amber Rudd today accused Boris Johnson of deploying aggressive language that “does incite violence”.
In an exclusive interview with the Evening Standard, the former Cabinet minister condemned as “immoral” some Downing Street tactics in the Brexit debate and criticised a “casual approach to the safety of MPs and their staff”.
Ms Rudd, who quit Mr Johnson’s government after the Tory whip was withdrawn from 21 rebel MPs, revealed she may stand as an Independent Conservative candidate in a London constituency at the coming general election.
In key developments in the increasingly bitter Brexit deadlock:
- Government minister Alok Sharma doubled down on the Prime Minister’s use of the term “surrender act” to describe the law banning the Government from seeking to crash out of the European Union without a deal. Mr Sharma claimed the law was “a form of capitulation” to Brussels.
- Some 120 archbishops and bishops issued a statement pleading against “further entrenching our divisions” with divisive rhetoric.
- The Government was accused of plotting to use up to three potential “loopholes” in the law passed by a cross-party group of MPs to force the PM to seek a Brexit delay rather than crash out on October 31.
Ms Rudd quit as work and pensions secretary earlier this month and was in charge of the nation’s security as home secretary when the Manchester bombing occurred in 2017.
Her intervention is a serious blow to Mr Johnson, who on Wednesday dismissed as “humbug” the fears of Labour MPs who linked his Brexit rhetoric with threats to their safety.
Asked if No 10’s language pitting people against Parliament incited violence, Ms Rudd said: “It does. The sort of language I’m afraid we’ve seen more and more of coming out from Number 10 does incite violence. It’s the sort of language people think legitimises a more aggressive approach and sometimes violence.”
She added that “the casual approach to safety of MPs and their staff is immoral” and she was “disappointed and stunned” when Mr Johnson dismissed the “genuine fear that a lot of women have” following the 2016 murder of Labour MP Jo Cox.
She said Mr Johnson’s rhetoric was “reminiscent” of Donald Trump leading chants of “lock her up” in relation to Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential race. She said it was “an immoral approach” and, in an incitement to Cabinet rebellion, she urged ministers to “consider their own judgments rather than be desperately loyal”.
Ms Rudd, who also resigned the Tory whip in solidarity with the 21 Tories who were expelled from the parliamentary party for voting to stop no-deal Brexit, revealed she may stand against her party in a London constituency.
“The most likely place for me to stand, if I need to stand as an Independent Conservative would be somewhere with a strong Remain constituency, so I am looking around," she said.
There will be speculation she could stand in Kensington, held by Labour MP Emma Dent Coad with a majority of only 20, or Chelsea and Fulham, where Conservative Greg Hands had a majority of more than 8,100 in 2017.
Ms Rudd said she was determined to “stay and fight” for a revival of the progressive Tory policies of the David Cameron era.
Mr Sharma, interviewed on Radio 4, defended Mr Johnson’s use of the term “surrender act”, claiming: “We are surrendering our ability to negotiate effectively with the EU.”
An unrepentant Mr Johnson was back on the campaign trail today with a hospital visit to announce a £200 million cash injection to replace MRI machines, CT scanners and breast screening equipment, plus funding 300 diagnostic machines.
The PM’s top aide Dominic Cummings claimed last night MPs had only themselves to blame because they had blocked Brexit. “It is not surprising some people are angry about it,” he said in a speech at a book launch. “In the end the situation can only be resolved by Parliament honouring its promise to respect the result.” He added: “We are enjoying this, we are going to leave and we are going to win.”
Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson yesterday spoke to police about a threat made to one of her children. Labour MP Jess Phillips disclosed that a man had been arrested while trying to smash the windows and kick the door of her Birmingham Yardley constituency office while yelling “fascist”.
Former PM Sir John Major raised fears that Mr Johnson is aiming to sidestep the so-called Benn Law by abusing ancient Privy Council privileges to suspend the Act.
“I should warn the Prime Minister that, if this route is taken, it will be in flagrant defiance of Parliament and utterly disrespectful to the Supreme Court,” he said. “It would be a piece of political chicanery that no one should ever forgive or forget.”
Mr Sharma refused to say whether such a tactic had been discussed by the Cabinet, but insisted the Government would comply with the law.
