David Gauke has refused to rule out handing Speaker John Bercow power that would allow him to force through a Brexit extension. Mr Gauke was one of the 21 Tory rebels kicked out of the party for thwarting the Government’s no deal Brexit plans. Sky News’ Sophy Ridge pressed the MP on claims that Remainers would pass a law that would allow John Bercow to “bypass” Boris Johnson.

He did not deny the claim that Tory rebels had been working on plans to change laws that would allow Speaker Bercow to personally request a Brexit delay.

The Sky News host said: “Are there plans, as have been suggested, that you will look at a second piece of legislation that would allow Speaker Bercow to bypass the PM and request an extension if necessary?”

Mr Gauke refused to rule this out, claiming he did not want “to be drawn into specifics ideas”.

He said: “The Benn act is effective, it does what it intends to do and the Government should abide by the law.”

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Mr Gauke also insisted that any last-ditch attempt from the Government to force through a no deal could be “easily dealt with”.

He was responding to claims that Downing Street will try to circumvent the Benn Act by finding a loophole in European Union law. 

The MP explained: “There has been suggestions of loopholes but anything suggested so far can be easily dealt with.

“The courts can make sure that the will of parliament is followed. These claims about not obeying the Benn Act undermines the rule of law.”

The Tory rebel dismissed claims that MPs behind the Benn Act had sought help from the French Government and the EU when drafting it.

According to the Mail on Sunday, Downing Street has launched an investigation into links between MPs and foreign powers in relation to the so-called “Surrender Act”.

Mr Gauke fired back at these claims: “No, it’s not true. And I think here is a very good example of a No 10 briefing using the word collusion.”

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He added: “That is a very loaded word in itself, collusion, providing no evidence that there was anything supporting this statement that there was help with the drafting coming from foreign countries.”

A No 10 source told the Mail on Sunday: “The Government is working on extensive investigations into Dominic Grieve, Oliver Letwin and Hilary Benn and their involvement with foreign powers and the funding of their activities.

“Governments have proper rules for drafting legislation, but nobody knows what organisations are pulling these strings.

“We will demand the disclosure of all details of their personal communications with other states.

“The drafting of primary legislation in collusion with foreign powers must be fully investigated.”

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