THE SNP’s Westminster leader has urged opposition parties to bury the hatchet to remove the “toxic” Prime Minister and stop a No-Deal Brexit.

Ian Blackford said there was a collective “responsibility” for MPs to take the keys of Number 10 away from Boris Johnson in light of his recent actions, including suspending Parliament unlawfully.

He believes it is in the national interest that a temporary prime minister be installed on an administrative basis to ensure Article 50 is extended and to call an immediate election.

Johnson’s refusal to confirm he will comply with legislation requiring him to delay Brexit has led to opposition parties – who had been resisting an election until the delay is confirmed – to consider further measures.

A meeting between opposition leaders to discuss tactics is due to take place tomorrow.

Senior SNP MP Stewart Hosie has suggested a vote of no confidence in the Government could be staged this week, which would work if an alternative government capable of commanding a Commons majority had been “pre-agreed”.

He said: “If we are serious about the extension, that is the only game in town.”

It could also raise the prospect of Tory MPs having to abandon their conference, which begins today in Manchester, to dash back to vote.

The planning to oust Johnson comes as it emerged the Prime Minister faces a potential police investigation over links with American businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri.

The Greater London Authority said its monitoring officer had recorded a “conduct matter” against Johnson over allegations Arcuri received favourable treatment because of her friendship with him while he was mayor of London.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct will now consider whether there are grounds to investigate the Prime Minister for the criminal offence of misconduct in public office.

Blackford said the events of the past week, including the Supreme Court ruling that prorogation of Parliament was unlawful and Johnson’s “outrageous behaviour” in the Commons showed he should not be allowed to continue in Number 10 “for any longer than is entirely necessary”.

“My message to other parties is a very simple one,” he said. “We have got a Prime Minister that is prepared to stop at nothing, he has made it clear he is still determined to drag us out of Europe on a No-Deal basis at the end of October, irrespective of the fact we have passed an act of Parliament that explicitly forbids him from doing so. Quite simply I believe there is an issue of responsibility of leadership that we all have to take away the keys of number 10 from this man that is prepared to behave in such a cavalier fashion.”

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon hinted on Friday she might back Jeremy Corbyn becoming a “caretaker” prime minister. Blackford said although Corbyn’s name had been raised as he is the leader of the opposition, he was “neutral” on who it should be.

Other names suggested in reports include Harriet Harman, Ken Clarke, Amber Rudd and Margaret Beckett.

“We need to coalesce around an individual that can execute the plan of extending Article 50 and making sure we get an early election,” Blackford said.

“Whether it is Jeremy Corbyn or anyone else, we are neutral on that – but the fact remains we cannot sit back and all the other parties have got to bury the hatchet and recognise we simply have to get this job done.

“I am less concerned as to who the name of the individual is – Jeremy Corbyn has been mentioned because he is the leader of the opposition, but it doesn’t have to be Jeremy – it is about giving that responsibility on behalf of all of us of extending

Article 50 and calling an election.”

He added: “We need that election because the people of Scotland deserve to have their say on where their future lies and who has the right to determine that future – is it the people of Scotland or is it Boris Johnson or anyone else in Number 10?

“Because it is crystal clear to all of us now that Scotland’s future has to be settled through an independence referendum - an election will give an opportunity for the people of Scotland to have their say and to show support for the SNP in that very clear stance that our future should be in our hands and nobody else’s.”

Blackford did not set out a timescale for a motion of no confidence, saying it could only be called when “others were prepared to accept their responsibilities” and there was a majority backing the plan.

Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson has previously said she would not put Corbyn in Downing Street, even for a short time.

Yesterday Scottish Liberal Democrat constitutional relations spokeswoman Wendy Chamberlain said: “Liberal Democrats will back a temporary government to stop a No Deal Brexit but that cannot be led by the divisive Jeremy Corbyn.

“The numbers don’t add up. Even Nicola Sturgeon has said that she doesn’t trust him.

“Jo Swinson is working hard across parties to build a majority at Westminster to stop the damage of Brexit.”

The Benn Act requires Johnson to request a delay from the EU if a Brexit deal is not reached by October 19.

However he has insisted he will obey the law, but not request an extension to Brexit – leading to concerns he is seeking to circumvent the legislation.

Johnson is facing another legal challenge over the issue in the Court of Session in Edinburgh, with a hearing due to take place on Friday in a case being spearheaded by Jo Maugham QC and SNP Joanna Cherry.

The inner house of the Court of Session will be asked to use a power known as nobile officium, which could it will send the request to extend Article 50 on Johnson’s behalf, if he refused to do so.

Maugham told the Sunday National that excluding the “unlikely” prospect of a deal, then the request for extending Article 50 will have to come from the Government, a new Government or the court.

He added: “Time is very short – we are almost in October and in 19 days [from then] the Prime Minister will face a legal do or die moment.”