John Bercow suggested as caretaker prime minister in government of national unity As opponents seek to oust Boris Johnson, there is speculation he may refuse to resign as Prime Minister, daring the Queen to sack him as PM

The divisive Commons Speaker John Bercow has been suggested as a potential caretaker Prime Minister in a desperate attempt to form a “government of national unity” to prevent a no-deal Brexit.

Plans have been discussed by cross-party MPs to bypass Jeremy Corbyn and place Mr Bercow as a non-partisan figure to lead a temporary government, should opposition parties succeed in toppling Boris Johnson as Prime Minister.

It comes as reports emerged that Mr Johnson would refuse to resign even if a caretaker Prime Minister could form an alternative government – in effect forcing the Queen to decide whether or not to sack him.

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The Prime Minister would “squat” in Number 10 and risk bringing the Palace to intervene by either firing him or bringing about an election.

Daring the Queen

“The Queen is not going to fire the prime minister. She would dissolve parliament and let the people decide,” a minister told The Sunday Times.

Proposals to install Mr Bercow as PM include creating a Cabinet of “all the talents” made up of prominent backbenchers, such as Ken Clarke and Sir Oliver Letwin, who have announced they will be standing down at the next election and are no longer bound by party loyalty.

Mr Bercow announced last month that he would be standing down as both Speaker and MP for Buckingham.

It signals the growing desperation among MPs keen to avoid a no-deal Brexit to find a workable solution as to who could lead a government of national unity following a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister.

The Labour leader has ruled out stepping aside to allow any other MP to replace Mr Johnson, believing he, as leader of the opposition, should be allowed to form a government in the first instance.

Mr Corbyn has the backing of Green MP Caroline Lucas, who told i it was “entirely right and proper” for him to be given the first opportunity to form a caretaker government.

But she added: “I also recognise that there are voices around the House and they’re saying that they won’t.

“Therefore, I think it’s also important that we do have a discussion about who else might be acceptable if it’s the case that Jeremy Corbyn isn’t able to secure that majority.”

Lib Lab feud

The internal wranglings over who should lead an alternative government has sparked bitter feuding between Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

Writing for inews.co.uk, Shadow Cabinet minister Jon Trickett accused Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson of being opposed to Mr Corbyn entering Downing Street because they want to win over Tory Remainers.

“The Lib Dem strategy therefore requires the party to be both ultra-Remain… and staunchly anti-Corbyn, so it doesn’t frighten off potential Tory waverers,” Mr Trickett writes.