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Boris Johnson is 'using Queen to deliver party broadcast' Jeremy Corbyn: No Brexit referendum before election
(about 2 hours later)
The PM is "using the Queen to deliver a pre-election party political broadcast", Jeremy Corbyn has said. A Labour government would hold a Brexit referendum soon after winning a general election, Jeremy Corbyn has promised.
The Labour leader called holding a Queen's Speech, which is due to take place on 14 October, before an expected election a "cynical stunt" in a speech. The party leader also said it was his "absolute priority" to remove the chance of a no-deal exit from the EU happening on 31 October.
And he said he is "champing at the bit" to have an election once a no-deal Brexit is taken "off the table". Speaking in Northampton, he outlined plans to ban fracking, end universal credit and build more affordable homes.
The Queen's Speech allows the government to outline its priorities at the start of a parliamentary year. The government is promising that Brexit will happen on 31 October, with or without a new deal with the EU.
However, speaking in Northampton, Mr Corbyn described the event as "a farce" with the government "setting out an agenda to Parliament that it has no intention or means of delivering". But last month, MPs passed legislation known as the Benn Act, which requires the government to seek an extension to the negotiating process from Brussels, if Parliament does not agree to any deal with the EU - or back a no-deal Brexit - before 19 October.
"This government isn't going to put any legislation before Parliament. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tried to call a general election, arguing it would break the Brexit impasse.
"It has a majority of minus 45, a 100% record of defeat in the Commons and is seeking a general election which will end the parliamentary session the Queen is about to open." But opposition MPs have rejected this, meaning an election cannot go ahead at present.
'Trust' Mr Corbyn said: "After an election, a Labour government would introduce legislation to ensure a referendum takes place."
The Labour leader also said he wants a general election, once the possibility of a no-deal Brexit is removed. He also said: "The second referendum is what we propose under a Labour government, when it's been elected, which would be not a choice between a no-deal cliff edge but between an intelligent arrangement with the European Union and Remain so that people would have a choice.
Last month, MPs passed legislation known as the Benn Act, which requires the government to seek an extension to the negotiating process, if a deal with the EU is not agreed, or no-deal is agreed to, before 19 October. "Our absolute priority - and that's why I've been talking to other opposition parties - is to make sure that no-deal is taken off the table and an extension of membership is attained."
But the Labour leader argued that Boris Johnson cannot be trusted to do this. Mr Corbyn said Mr Johnson could not be trusted to abide by the terms of the Benn Act.
"Prime minister, we can't trust you not to break the law because you've got form," he said. He added: "We can't trust you not to use the period of an election campaign to drive our country off a no-deal cliff edge that will crash our economy, destroy jobs and industries, cause shortages of medicine and food and endanger peace in Northern Ireland.
"We can't trust you not to use the period of an election campaign to drive our country off a no-deal cliff edge that will crash our economy, destroy jobs and industries, cause shortages of medicine and food and endanger peace in Northern Ireland. "So it's simple: obey the law, take no-deal off the table and then let's have the election."
"So it's simple: obey the law, take no-deal off the table and then let's have the election. Earlier, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said - in contrast to Mr Corbyn - that she could "see the sense" in having another referendum on Brexit before a general election.
"There's only one reason it hasn't happened yet - we can't trust you." Asked if she was lobbying her leader to support this series of events, she said: "A number of us are trying to think of a way through this."
Mr Johnson has tried to call a general election arguing it would break the Brexit impasse - a move which has been rejected by opposition MPs. Plans for government
During his speech, Mr Corbyn also set out his plans for an alternative Queen's Speech describing it as "the most radical of modern times". During his appearance in Northampton, Mr Corbyn also delivered what he called his "alternative Queen's Speech". He promised a Labour government would:
Mr Corbyn said a Labour government would hold a referendum on Brexit, immediately rise the minimum wage to £10 an hour for workers aged 16 and over, ban fracking, scrap university tuition fees and introduce free prescriptions in England. He also said Mr Johnson's decision to holding the actual Queen's Speech - which outlines the government's priorities at the start of a parliamentary year - next Monday was a "cynical stunt", coming before an expected general election.
Meanwhile, Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry has said she could "see the sense" in having another referendum on Brexit before a general election. He accused the prime minister of "using the Queen to deliver a pre-election party political broadcast".
Asked if she was lobbying Mr Corbyn to support such a vote before a general election, she said: "A number of us are trying to think of a way through this." But Downing Street says next Monday's event is a chance to set out plans for the NHS, schools, tackling crime, investing in infrastructure and building a strong economy.