Former prime minister David Cameron says he does not think Boris Johnson was right to suspend Parliament, which he went on to describe as counter productive.
In an interview with ITV News, Mr Cameron was asked if he thought Boris Johnson was right to prorogue Parliament for five weeks.
Mr Cameron replied: I dont. Well wait for what the courts say. I dont think it was illegal.
It looked to me, from the outside, like rather sharp practice of trying to restrict the debate and I thought it was actually from his point of view probably counterproductive.
In the end, we have to work through Parliament, and you cant deny the arithmetic of Parliament and the majorities there are in Parliament.
Mr Cameron also criticised Mr Johnsons decision to remove the whip from 21 Tory MPs after they voted against the Government in a key Brexit vote last month.
Advertisement
Advertisement
He said they should be offered a route back into the party.
He added: I obviously disagree with the idea of taking away the whip from 21 hard-working, loyal Conservatives.
I think that was a bad decision, if it isnt reversed, it will be I think a disastrous decision.
I hope that Boris will get a deal in Brussels, he will come back, try and bring parliament together to back that deal – I dont see why those 21 people shouldnt be restored to the Conservative whip.
If theyre not, I really worry about what could happen.
Mr Cameron claims Mr Johnson believed Brexit would be crushed like a toad under the harrow before he joined the Vote Leave team during the 2016 referendum.
He said: I spoke to him at length about it and I said, “Boris youve never been in favour of leaving the EU, so why now theres a better deal on offer, are you in favour of leaving now.”
Advertisement
Advertisement
Mr Cameron added: He thought that the Brexit vote would be lost but he didnt want to give up the chance of being on the romantic, patriotic nationalistic side of Brexit.
Minutes before he went out to explain why he was going to be on the side of Brexit, he sent me a text saying, “Brexit will be crushed like a toad under the harrow”, but I can only conclude that – hed never argued for it before.
