John Major has threatened to take Boris Johnson to court to prevent him from suspending parliament in order to force a no-deal Brexit.
“I think the idea of proroguing parliament is utterly and totally unacceptable from any British parliamentarian or democrat,” Major told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“I for one would be prepared to go and seek judicial review to prevent parliament being bypassed.”
Major, who is backing Jeremy Hunt in the leadership contest, said if Johnson asked the Queen to shut down parliament she would have no choice but to agree.
But he said the prime minister’s advice to the Palace that she do so could be challenged in the courts.
Johnson has refused to rule out suspending the Commons in order to ensure the UK leaves the EU on October 31 - with or without a deal.
“I’m not going to take anything off the table, any more than I’m going to take no deal off the table,” he told last night’s ITV leadership debate.
“I think it’s absolutely bizarre at this stage in the negotiations for the UK – yet again – to be weakening its own position.”
Hunt issued a stark warning about the prospect of suspending parliament.
“When that has happened in the past, when parliament has been shut down against its will, we actually had a civil war,” Hunt said.