LONDON, Oct 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Boris Johnson’s Conservatives stepped up pressure on lawmakers to back the prime minister’s bid to hold an early election and break Britain’s Brexit impasse, saying the country was being held “hostage” by parliament.
But with the main opposition Labour Party waiting for the European Union to grant a Brexit delay and two other parties launching their own bid for an even earlier election, the government’s bid so far looks set to fail.
Britain was due to leave the EU on Thursday, but despite the government arguing this is still the legal default date, few expect Johnson to meet his “do or die” promise to deliver Brexit on Oct 31 after the bloc agreed to another delay.
More than three years since Britain voted to leave the EU, the divided country and its parliament are still debating over how, when and even whether Brexit, Britain’s biggest policy shift for more than 40 years, should happen.
All Britain’s political parties agree an election is needed to break the standoff over Brexit, but cannot agree on its timing. For many lawmakers, an attempt by Johnson to set the terms of a new election raises concerns that he might renege.
“Parliament cannot hold the country hostage any longer,” Johnson said. “Millions of businesses and people cannot plan their futures, this paralysis is causing real damage and the country must move on in 2020.”
His culture minister, Nicky Morgan, doubled down on the message on Sunday, warning lawmakers that Thursday was still “the default leaving date”.
“So that should focus minds,” she told Sky News.
Asked what would happen if the government failed on Monday in its early election bid, Morgan said: “We will keep asking for that election and we will find ways to do that.” — NNN-AGENCIES
