Both major UK parties appear to be making preparations for a general election in the face of Boris Johnson’s controversial decision to suspend parliament last week. With little time now available to MPs to pass a bill that would prevent a no-deal Brexit, the opposition’s only alternative is a vote of no-confidence to overthrow Johnson’s government, in hopes that a new election would bring new leadership prior to October 31 and convince the EU to allow a further extension to the Brexit deadline. Within the Labour party, former leader Tony…
In the ongoing struggle between UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU negotiators over the terms of Brexit, Johnson’s backup plan has consistently been to seek increased trade with the United States should a no-deal Brexit stifle trade with the EU. Despite President Trump’s fondness for Johnson, however, a 54-member Congressional caucus now threatens to block any such trade deal if Johnson continues with current plans to scrap the Irish backstop and threaten the Good Friday agreement between the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The Friends of Ireland caucus,…
Boris Johnson’s first priority on ascending to the position of Prime Minister seems to have been purging the ranks of all those tied to his political opponents. A total of seventeen ministers were either fired from their positions or resigned on Wednesday. These included Johnson’s rival candidate in the PM race, Jeremy Hunt, who resigned rather than accept a demotion. The Trade and Defense Secretaries, Liam Fox and Penny Mordaunt, who supported Hunt in the contest, were also given the boot. Johnson’s new administration has been filled with Brexit hardliners,…
The British ministers for justice and finance have now both announced they plan to resign from the government in the case that the next Prime Minister pursues a no-deal Brexit. Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond and Justice Secretary David Gauke made their announcements this month in the face of a contest between Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt for leadership of the Conservative Party. Both lead candidate Johnson and his opponent Hunt have made strong statements to the effect that the UK must leave the EU on the current Brexit…
Jeremy Hunt, the UK foreign secretary and one of two contenders to be the next Tory leader and Prime Minister, announced in a BBC interview that he would pursue a no-deal Brexit even if it meant telling businesses to prepare for collapse. According to Hunt, “At the beginning of October, if there is no prospect of a deal that can get through parliament, then I will leave at the end of October because that is our democratic promise to the British people.” Questioned whether he would be willing to tell…