Fresh doubts have been cast over Boris Johnson’s commitment to securing a Brexit deal after the government said it would not delay the UK’s departure from the EU even to give parliament time to approve a new agreement.

Mr Johnson’s chief Brexit negotiator, David Frost, ruled out a so-called “technical extension” during talks in Brussels this week, according to a leaked diplomatic memo seen by The Independent.

It raises the prospect that parliament could run out of time to ratify a Brexit deal even if the prime minister manages to secure a new agreement with Brussels.

Mr Johnson claimed on Friday that Remainers were wrecking Britain’s chances of leaving the EU with a deal by making Brussels officials believe that Brexit could be stopped.

But MPs warned that approving any deal would be “impossible” in just a few days after the PM’s move to suspend parliament, fuelling fears that Britain is heading for a no deal even as the government insists it is intensifying talks with the EU.

The Institute for Government think tank also said it would be “very tricky” for parliament to approve a deal in time, prompting Labour MPs to claim that Mr Johnson was not serious about negotiating a new agreement and was instead simply “telling people what they want to hear”.

Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Show all 29 1 /29 Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Houses of Parliament An anti-Brexit supporter raises a sign during a protest in front of the Houses of Parliament in central London, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson maneuvered on Wednesday to give his political opponents even less time to block a no-deal Brexit before the Oct. 31 withdrawal deadline, winning Queen Elizabeth II's approval to suspend Parliament. (AP Photo/Vudi Xhymshiti) Vudi Xhymshiti AP Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Downing Street Anti-Brexit demonstrators hold placards as they protest outside of Downing Street in London on August 28, 2019. - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sparked fury Wednesday among pro-Europeans and MPs opposed to a no-deal Brexit by forcing the suspension of parliament weeks before Britain's EU departure date. The pound slid on the surprise news, which opponents branded a "coup" and a "declaration of war" but Johnson claimed was necessary to allow him to pursue a "bold and ambitious" new domestic legislative agenda. (Photo by DANIEL SORABJI / AFP)DANIEL SORABJI/AFP/Getty Images DANIEL SORABJI AFP/Getty Images Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Houses of Parliament Anti-Brexit supporters take part in a protest in front of the Houses of Parliament in central London, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson maneuvered on Wednesday to give his political opponents even less time to block a no-deal Brexit before the Oct. 31 withdrawal deadline, winning Queen Elizabeth II's approval to suspend Parliament. (AP Photo/Vudi Xhymshiti) Vudi Xhymshiti AP Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Houses of Parliament to Downing Street TOPSHOT - Anti-Brexit demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a protest march from Britain's Houses of Parliament to Downing Street in London on August 28, 2019. - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Wednesday that the suspension of parliament would be extended until October 14 -- just two weeks before the UK is set to leave the EU -- enraging anti-Brexit MPs. MPs will return to London later than in recent years, giving pro-EU lawmakers less time than expected to thwart Johnson's Brexit plans before Britain is due to leave the European Union on October 31. (Photo by DANIEL SORABJI / AFP)DANIEL SORABJI/AFP/Getty Images DANIEL SORABJI AFP/Getty Images Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Downing Street Anti-Brexit supporters gather outside the Prime Minister's residence 10 Downing Street in London, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday to suspend Parliament, throwing down the gauntlet to his critics and causing outrage among opposition leaders who will have even less time to thwart a no-deal Brexit. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Houses of Parliament LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Pro-EU supporters protest outside the Houses of Parliament on August 28, 2019 in London, England. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has written to Cabinet colleagues telling them that his government has requested the Queen suspend parliament for longer than the usual conference season. Parliament will return for a new session with a Queen's Speech on 14 October 2019. Some Remain supporting MPs believe this move to be a ploy to hinder legislation preventing a No Deal Brexit. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images) Peter Summers Getty Images Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Houses of Parliament epa07799808 A protestor outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London, Britain, 28 August 2019. The UK government is to suspend Parliament after the summer break, a move that might block MPs from voting against a possible no-deal Brexit.. EPA/WILL OLIVER WILL OLIVER EPA Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Houses of Parliament Anti-Brexit supporters take part in a protest near the Houses of Parliament in central London, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday to suspend Parliament, throwing down the gauntlet to his critics and causing outrage among opposition leaders who will have even less time to thwart a no-deal Brexit. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Whitehall TOPSHOT - Demonstrators hold placards as they protest on Whitehall, near the entrance to Downing Street in London on August 28, 2019. - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sparked fury Wednesday among pro-Europeans and MPs opposed to a no-deal Brexit by forcing the suspension of parliament weeks before Britain's EU departure date. The pound slid on the surprise news, which opponents branded a "coup" and a "declaration of war" but Johnson claimed was necessary to allow him to pursue a "bold and ambitious" new domestic legislative agenda. (Photo by DANIEL SORABJI / AFP)DANIEL SORABJI/AFP/Getty Images DANIEL SORABJI AFP/Getty Images Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Houses of Parliament Anti-Brexit supporters take part in a protest at College Green near the Houses of Parliament in central London, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson maneuvered Wednesday to give his political opponents even less time to block a no-deal Brexit before the Oct. 31 withdrawal deadline, winning Queen Elizabeth II's approval to suspend Parliament. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Anti-Brexit supporters take part in a protest at College Green near the Houses of Parliament in central London, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson maneuvered Wednesday to give his political opponents even less time to block a no-deal Brexit before the Oct. 31 withdrawal deadline, winning Queen Elizabeth II's approval to suspend Parliament. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Protestors from the European Movement in Scotland hold a walking vigil on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, to demonstrate against Prime Minister Boris Johnson temporarily closing down the Commons from the second week of September until October 14 when there will be a Queen's Speech to open a new session of Parliament. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday August 28, 2019. See PA story POLITICS Brexit. Photo credit should read: Jane Barlow/PA Wire Jane Barlow PA Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Anti-Brexit supporters shout slogans as they gather outside the Prime Minister's residence 10 Downing Street in London, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday to suspend Parliament, throwing down the gauntlet to his critics and causing outrage among opposition leaders who will have even less time to thwart a no-deal Brexit. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Anti-Brexit supporters take part in a protest at College Green near the Houses of Parliament in central London, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson maneuvered Wednesday to give his political opponents even less time to block a no-deal Brexit before the Oct. 31 withdrawal deadline, winning Queen Elizabeth II's approval to suspend Parliament. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Anti-Brexit supporters take part in a protest at College Green near the Houses of Parliament in central London, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson maneuvered Wednesday to give his political opponents even less time to block a no-deal Brexit before the Oct. 31 withdrawal deadline, winning Queen Elizabeth II's approval to suspend Parliament. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Anti-Brexit supporters gather outside the Prime Minister's residence 10 Downing Street in London, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday to suspend Parliament, throwing down the gauntlet to his critics and causing outrage among opposition leaders who will have even less time to thwart a no-deal Brexit. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Anti-Brexit supporters take part in a protest at College Green near the Houses of Parliament in central London, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson maneuvered Wednesday to give his political opponents even less time to block a no-deal Brexit before the Oct. 31 withdrawal deadline, winning Queen Elizabeth II's approval to suspend Parliament. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott addresses protesters outside the Houses of Parliament, London, to demonstrate against Prime Minister Boris Johnson temporarily closing down the Commons from the second week of September until October 14 when there will be a Queen's Speech to open a new session of Parliament. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday August 28, 2019. See PA story POLITICS Brexit. Photo credit should read: Kirsty O'Connor/PA Wire Kirsty O'Connor PA Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament epa07799846 Protesters gather outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London, Britain, 28 August 2019. The UK government is to suspend Parliament after the summer break, a move that might block MPs from voting against a possible no-deal Brexit. EPA/WILL OLIVER WILL OLIVER EPA Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Anti-Brexit supporters gather outside the Prime Minister's residence 10 Downing Street in London, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday to suspend Parliament, throwing down the gauntlet to his critics and causing outrage among opposition leaders who will have even less time to thwart a no-deal Brexit. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Anti-Brexit supporters carry a flare near the Cenotaph in central London, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday to suspend Parliament, throwing down the gauntlet to his critics and causing outrage among opposition leaders who will have even less time to thwart a no-deal Brexit. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Matt Dunham AP Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Anti-Brexit demonstrators hold placards as they protest outside of Downing Street in London on August 28, 2019. - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sparked fury Wednesday among pro-Europeans and MPs opposed to a no-deal Brexit by forcing the suspension of parliament weeks before Britain's EU departure date. The pound slid on the surprise news, which opponents branded a "coup" and a "declaration of war" but Johnson claimed was necessary to allow him to pursue a "bold and ambitious" new domestic legislative agenda. (Photo by DANIEL SORABJI / AFP)DANIEL SORABJI/AFP/Getty Images DANIEL SORABJI AFP/Getty Images Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Anti-Brexit demonstrators hold placards as they protest outside of Downing Street in London on August 28, 2019. - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sparked fury Wednesday among pro-Europeans and MPs opposed to a no-deal Brexit by forcing the suspension of parliament weeks before Britain's EU departure date. The pound slid on the surprise news, which opponents branded a "coup" and a "declaration of war" but Johnson claimed was necessary to allow him to pursue a "bold and ambitious" new domestic legislative agenda. (Photo by DANIEL SORABJI / AFP)DANIEL SORABJI/AFP/Getty Images DANIEL SORABJI AFP/Getty Images Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Pro-EU supporters protest outside the Houses of Parliament on August 28, 2019 in London, England. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has written to Cabinet colleagues telling them that his government has requested the Queen suspend parliament for longer than the usual conference season. Parliament will return for a new session with a Queen's Speech on 14 October 2019. Some Remain supporting MPs believe this move to be a ploy to hinder legislation preventing a No Deal Brexit. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)(Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images) Peter Summers Getty Images Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament Anti-Brexit supporters continue to participate in a late evening protest in front of the Houses of Parliament in central London, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson maneuvered on Wednesday to give his political opponents even less time to block a no-deal Brexit before the Oct. 31 withdrawal deadline, winning Queen Elizabeth II's approval to suspend Parliament. (AP Photo/Vudi Xhymshiti) Vudi Xhymshiti AP Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament London metropolitan police talk with anti-Brexit supporters in front of the Houses of Parliament in central London, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson maneuvered on Wednesday to give his political opponents even less time to block a no-deal Brexit before the Oct. 31 withdrawal deadline, winning Queen Elizabeth II's approval to suspend Parliament. (AP Photo/Vudi Xhymshiti) Vudi Xhymshiti AP Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: A Pro-EU supporter raises her fist during a protest outside the Houses of Parliament on August 28, 2019 in London, England. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has written to Cabinet colleagues telling them that his government has requested the Queen suspend parliament for longer than the usual conference season. Parliament will return for a new session with a Queen's Speech on 14 October 2019. Some Remain supporting MPs believe this move to be a ploy to hinder legislation preventing a No Deal Brexit. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images) Peter Summers Getty Images Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Pro-EU supporters protest outside the Houses of Parliament on August 28, 2019 in London, England. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has written to Cabinet colleagues telling them that his government has requested the Queen suspend parliament for longer than the usual conference season. Parliament will return for a new session with a Queen's Speech on 14 October 2019. Some Remain supporting MPs believe this move to be a ploy to hinder legislation preventing a No Deal Brexit. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)(Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images) Peter Summers Getty Images Thousands protest after Boris Johnson requests to suspend parliament LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 28: Pro-EU supporters protest outside the Houses of Parliament on August 28, 2019 in London, England. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has written to Cabinet colleagues telling them that his government has requested the Queen suspend parliament for longer than the usual conference season. Parliament will return for a new session with a Queen's Speech on 14 October 2019. Some Remain supporting MPs believe this move to be a ploy to hinder legislation preventing a No Deal Brexit. (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)(Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images) Peter Summers Getty Images

Downing Street has suggested any deal could be ratified by 31 October, even if MPs had to work through the night.

Next week, ministers will launch a £100m “Get Ready” campaign urging businesses and members of the public to prepare for a no-deal Brexit. New concerns about the impact of no deal were raised after warnings that the UK could run out of flu vaccines.

MPs will launch a last-ditch bid to block a no-deal Brexit when parliament resumes next week after its summer break. Mr Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament from early September until just two weeks before 31 October gives opponents of no deal only days to act.

They were dealt a blow yesterday when a court ruled that the suspension, known as prorogation, could continue, despite a group of MPs and peers urging judges to declare it unconstitutional.

Mr Johnson has insisted he wants the UK to leave the EU with a deal, and on Friday claimed that MPs trying to block no deal were making it harder for him to secure an agreement.

He said: “I’m afraid that the more our friends and partners [in Europe] think, at the back of their mind, that Brexit could be stopped, that the UK could be kept in by parliament, the less likely they are to give us the deal that we need.”

However, Mr Frost is understood to have told EU officials that this must be agreed and ratified by the 31 October deadline, even though most commentators expect any breakthrough to come only at a European Council summit in 17 October – just two weeks before the UK is due to leave.

The diplomat is said to have assured Brussels that ratification of a deal would be possible in the second half of October, even though Mr Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament has cut the time available for MPs to debate Brexit.

But Maddy Thimont Jack, senior researcher at the Institute for Government, told The Independent: “It will be very tricky to get a deal through parliament after the European Council. The only real way to do it is to have the legal text ready so that you’re ready to transfer it to UK law straight away, and then pass the Withdrawal Agreement Bill in an expedited way.

“Johnson has said there will be votes on the Queen’s Speech on 21 and 22 October so from that time until the 31 October there are only six sitting days, which is barely any time.

“There will be a delay if the legal text is not ready, if they agree something last minute and it’s not ready to be transferred into law. That’s the challenge.”

Ms Thimont Jack said the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which is needed to turn the exit deal into law, was a “hugely complex bill that will have a significant impact on UK law” and should not be rushed through parliament.

She said: “If they do rush it through the Commons they avoid scrutiny, so it’s not a good way to legislate for something that momentous.”

Boris Johnson confirms prorogation of parliament

Former cabinet minister Sir Oliver Letwin also warned yesterday that Britain would be on course for a disorderly departure even if Mr Johnson returns from the European Council meeting with a new agreement, because MPs would not have enough time to ratify it.

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “There’s an irony here, which is if he does get a deal, as a matter of fact, he is going to need an extension anyway because it’s impossible to take from the late October stage, a deal which is sort of written down but not solemnised, and implement it in just a few days. So in practice, the government would need to seek an extension.”

Labour MP Alex Sobel, a supporter of the People’s Vote campaign, said Mr Frost’s message to the EU showed Mr Johnson was not being genuine in claiming to want a deal.

He said: “The prime minister tells the British public and MPs that he’s doing everything to get a deal with the EU, but in his communications with the EU he’s saying he won’t delay even for a minute, even if a deal is done but extra time were needed for implementation. It’s the same old Boris Johnson, telling people what they want to hear.”

He added: “An extension to the Article 50 process may well be needed to avoid the disaster of no deal. Boris Johnson’s government do not have the right to impose this catastrophe on the country without public consent, and without the proper time to consider the implications.

“The claim we can get a deal and pass the massive amount of legislation needed to make it work in just a fortnight is an insult to democracy. Laws passed in a hurry are almost always bad laws because without proper scrutiny they contain untested assumptions and reflect ministerial prejudice rather than robust policy. So even if he got a deal under these circumstances, the laws we’d get would make the Poll Tax look like a policy masterpiece.”

Tom Brake, the Liberal Democrats’ Brexit spokesperson, said: “This leak shows what we all know to be true – this decision to shut down parliament is nothing more than an authoritarian power grab. Those who fear no deal must stand up to this move by Boris Johnson. The leak shows that the government, even if a deal is in the offing, intend crashing out on October 31. The Liberal Democrats are doing all we can, both in the courts and in parliament, to prevent both the shutdown of our democracy and a no-deal Brexit."

Jeremy Corbyn says he will try to politically stop Boris Johnson shutting down parliament

MPs are set for a series of dramatic showdowns next week when Mr Johnson’s opponents spring into action to try to block a no-deal Brexit. The rebel leaders, including former Tory cabinet ministers Phil Hammond and Dominic Grieve, have remained tight-lipped about their plan for fear of alerting No 10 to their intentions, but are expected to try to rapidly push through a law that would rule out no deal.

While they work on masterminding a parliamentary plot to stop no deal, other MPs are focusing their attention on the courts.

Yesterday, the Court of Session in Scotland refused a request from a group of 70 MPs and peers to block the suspension of parliament until their appeal had been heard in full. Another case will be heard in London next week after being filed by a group including campaigner Gina Miller, former prime minister Sir John Major and Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson. A third legal bid is under way in Northern Ireland.

As MPs opposed to no deal use the weekend to finalise their strategy, the government is putting the finishing touches to its own plans to encourage businesses and consumers to prepare for the UK crashing out of the EU.

The “Get Ready” advertising campaign has been drawn up by Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove, who is responsible for no-deal planning, in close conjunction with No 10.

It will include printing mugs and T-shirts with the “Get Ready” slogan, paying for billboard adverts across the country and launching a new government web page.

Ministers have insisted repeatedly that the UK will be prepared to leave without a deal on 31 October, but further doubt was cast on the claims after doctors warned that such an outcome could result in a shortage of flu vaccines.

Around a million doses of the vaccines are likely to need to be imported into the UK after the Brexit deadline, just as Britain is faced with a particularly virulent strain of the illness.

Andrew Goddard, the president of the Royal Colleague of Physicians, told BBC Newsnight: “I can’t sit here and say ‘don’t worry, no deal will be fine, no one is going to come to any harm, no one is going to run out of medicines’.

“What we can see is we’re likely to not have enough flu vaccine, we are likely not to have the flu vaccine coverage that we’ve had in previous years, and that is likely to have an impact on the NHS.”