Boris Johnson will tell Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron this week that parliament cannot stop a no-deal Brexit, Downing Street has said.

During trips to Germany and France, he will tell the leaders "there must be a new deal to replace the failed Brussels deal" - but if one cannot be struck, the UK is prepared to leave the EU on 31 October without an agreement.

However, Number 10 said it expects there to be "very little discussion" of Brexit during the visit to Berlin on Wednesday and Paris on Thursday, with other topics to be the focus.

Image: Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron are to host the prime minister ahead of the next G7 summit

Discussions are expected to centre around the next G7 summit in Biarritz, France, next weekend, with trade, foreign policy, security and the environment set to be on the table.

Number 10 said Mr Johnson would discuss issues such as climate change with his fellow leaders, adding: "The EU are our closest neighbours and whatever happens we want a strong relationship after we leave."


Despite the prime minister's insistence that leaving the EU without an agreement is still on the cards, the debate continues to rage as to who could become a caretaker prime minister in the event of a successful vote of no confidence in the government to prevent a no-deal Brexit.

Jeremy Corbyn has said he is best suited to taking on the role, and has refused to say whether he would step aside and support a government of national unity if he cannot win over enough support.

He said: "Labour is the largest opposition party by far, that is the process that must be followed."

Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson suggested on Thursday that long-serving MPs Kenneth Clarke or Harriet Harman could lead a government of national unity to stop the UK leaving the EU with no deal.

She has so far not offered her backing to the idea of Mr Corbyn leading a temporary administration, and the Labour leader also lacks the support of Independent Group leader Anna Soubry.

'I'm disappointed in Jo Swinson's response'

Senior Tory MP Sir Oliver Letwin has also ruled out making Mr Corbyn prime minister, but he and a group of Remainers including former attorney general Dominic Grieve have agreed to meet him.

Meanwhile, a YouGov survey of nearly 2,000 people has suggested 48% of Britons would prefer the UK to leave the EU without a deal and Mr Corbyn not becoming PM, than him taking power and holding another Brexit vote.