100 Tory MPs prepared to vote against government to stop No Deal Brexit, Rory Stewart says The leadership contender has said he is determined to stop an EU exit without a deal

Up to 100 Conservative MPs would vote with opposition parties to stop Boris Johnson from pressing ahead with a no-deal Brexit, leadership contender Rory Stewart has claimed.

Both Mr Johnson and Dominic Raab have insisted that they are ready to lead Britain out of the European Union with or without an agreement on 31 October.

Mr Stewart ruled out joining senior Tories who have signalled they could bring down the government if the next Prime Minister is intent on a no-deal Brexit.

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But the International Development Secretary added: “We can stop a no-deal Brexit much more easily than that.

“I, and nearly 100 of my colleagues, would vote to prevent a no-deal Brexit without having to bring down a Conservative government.”

Quizzed by journalists

He made his comments at a hustings organised by lobby journalists which was addressed by all the candidates apart from Mr Johnson.

Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, also said he would strongly oppose any attempt to override Parliament as a tactic for forcing through a no-deal Brexit.Mr Johnson and Mr Raab have refused to rule out suspending the Commons as a last resort to ensure Brexit takes place on schedule in the autumn.

But Mr Gove said: “Ultimately we live in a parliamentary democracy and we argued in that [referendum] campaign that we wanted to strengthen, not weaken, Parliament.

“I believe that if we are going to leave without a deal you need to persuade Parliament that is the right course of action.”

Bercow drawn into debate

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt took a swipe at John Bercow, accusing the Commons Speaker of siding with MPs plotting to thwart Brexit.

“I profoundly disagree with the way he has used his office to further a particular political agenda,” he said.

But Mr Gove praised the Speaker for defending Parliament’s right to stand up to ministers.

Mr Hunt argued that the “democratic risks” of failing to leave the European Union would be greater than a no-deal.

And he said he would vote to Leave in a second Brexit referendum, explaining: “Like thousands, millions of people who voted Remain, I just want to get on and leave the European Union.

Second referendum voting

Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, who was also a former Remainer, said too that he would vote Leave if offered a second chance.

He said: “We cannot as a country keep having this debate over and over again.”

Mr Raab aimed a dig at the absent Mr Johnson by describing the event as an “essential gauntlet”.

He defended himself from criticism that he could not be trusted again in Brexit negotiations.

“All the people in Brussels are briefing against me because I have said the things to them no one else dared to do,” he said.

Pointing out that the Tories had only won one election outright in the last 25 years, Mr Javid said the next Tory leader needed to reach out to young adults, women and ethnic minorities.

“That’s where I have my strongest appeal, as that broad appeal,” he said. “All the polling shows I have the broadest appeal to those communities.”