Asked by fellow BBC editor Katya Adler whether Boris Johnson’s relentless attempt to take the UK out of the EU on October 31 at all costs would affect the public’s perception ahead of the next general election, Laura Kunessberg said there was no doubt it would. She argued that the Prime Minister’s strategy of propagating a ‘Parliament versus people’ narrative will also push the EU to wait until the result of a general election before moving further with the Brexit negotiations.

She said: “We just heard from political cabinet this afternoon a briefing that actually they believe that the Tory Party can win in this way.

“But this is the gamble. I mean it’s a massive gamble.

“It’s can you key into what is very, very real frustration with this whole mess by just being the person who says ‘I’m going to get it done, I don’t care how it plays, I’m just going to get it done. I don’t care what it takes, I’m just going to get it done’.

“But also, in terms of how the EU might respond to this.

“He still, Downing Street still does want to get a deal.

This is the gamble. I mean it’s a massive gamble

Laura Kuenssberg

“But from some of the conversations I’ve had, when they look at this you wouldn’t blame them if they thought ‘it might be a bit tricky getting that through’ and are they better to wait for a general election.”

The Prime Minister is adamant in his promise to the nation that the UK will leave the EU on October 31.

Mr Johnson faced backlash from MPs in the Commons after the Supreme Court held that his decision to prorogue Parliament was unlawful. 

Before the annulled prorogation, parliamentarians voted in favour of the Benn Law which may force the Prime Minister to ask for an extension if he fails to reach a deal with the EU by October 19.

But Number 10 and Cabinet members are adamant the Prime Minister can still refuse to ask for an extension and allow the UK to leave on October 31 whilst still complying with the new controversial law.

Sir John Major raised fears on Thursday evening that Mr Johnson could look to circumvent the terms of the Benn Law by using Privy Council privileges.

The former Tory prime minister suggested the Government could seek to bypass statute law by passing an Order of Council – an order that can be issued by ministers serving as privy councillors – to suspend the Act until after October 31 without involving the Queen.

“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,” said Sir John.

“It would be a piece of political chicanery that no-one should ever forgive or forget.”

But International Development Secretary Alok Sharmarefused to say whether such a tactic had been broached at a meeting of the political Cabinet on Wednesday.

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“I’m not going to set out discussions that have occurred in the privacy of Cabinet,” he told the BBC.

“We are absolutely going to comply with the law, we are working incredibly hard to get a deal and we will be leaving on October 31.”

Mr Sharma said the Prime Minister is correct to label the Benn Law, which commits the Government to extend Article 50 if no exit deal is agreed, the “surrender act”.

He told the BBC: “If you look at the fundamentals of what that Bill does, it does surrender our ability to have effective discussions with the European Union and it does surrender our ability to be able to walk away from the table if that is what happens.

“We are surrendering our ability to negotiate effectively with the EU. If you were going into a negotiation with both hands tied behind your back, would you not think it somehow a form of capitulation?”

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