LONDON, Aug 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson came under pressure Sunday to immediately recall lawmakers from their summer holiday so parliament can debate Brexit.
More than 100 MPs have written to Johnson to urge him to reconvene and let them sit permanently until Oct 31 — the date Britain is due to leave the
European Union.
MPs are not due to return until Sept 3.
“Our country is on the brink of an economic crisis, as we career towards a
no-deal Brexit,” said the letter, signed by MPs and opposition party leaders
who want to halt Britain’s departure from the EU.
“We face a national emergency, and parliament must be recalled now.”
Parliament is set to break up again shortly after it returns, with the
main parties holding their annual conferences during the September break.
Johnson — whose government commands a one-seat majority — insists
Britain must leave the EU on Oct 31, with or without a divorce deal with
Brussels.
Labour main opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn wants to call a vote of no
confidence in Johnson’s government after parliament returns.
He hopes to take over as a temporary prime minister, seek an extension to
Britain’s EU departure date to stop a no-deal Brexit, and then call a general
election.
“What we need is a government that is prepared to negotiate with the
European Union so we don’t have a crash-out on the 31st,” Corbyn said
Saturday.
“This government clearly doesn’t want to do that.”
Britain could face food, fuel and medicine shortages and chaos at its
ports in a no-deal Brexit, The Sunday Times newspaper reported, citing a
leaked government planning document.
There would likely be some form of hard border imposed on the island of
Ireland, the document implied.
Rather than worst-case scenarios, the leaked document, compiled this month by the Cabinet Office ministry, spells out the likely ramifications of a no-deal Brexit, the broadsheet claimed.
The document said logjams could affect fuel distribution, while up to 85
percent of trucks using the main ports to continental Europe might not be
ready for French customs.
The availability of fresh food would be diminished and prices would go up,
said the newspaper. — NNN-AGENCIES
