UK seeks extension to Brexit negotiations after Johnson deal fails to pass Parliament
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson failed to pass his own latest version of the Brexit deal through an emergency session of Parliament on Saturday, forcing him to request an extension from the EU per a previously-set October 19 deadline.
Johnson’s own feelings on the matter were made clear, however, as the unsigned request for an extension that was mandated by Parliament earlier in September was accompanied by a signed letter urging EU leaders not to grant the extension.
The Benn Act passed on September 9th demanded the extension be requested, and followed on a Parliamentary rebellion against the Prime Minister after his repeated attempts to dismiss the body and force through a choice of his deal or no-deal Brexit.
Opposition MPs now warn that Johnson may be held in contempt of Parliament and taken to court over his attempt with the second letter to contradict and sabotage the mandated extension request.
Johnson’s ministers continue to insist, as Johnson previously has, that the UK will leave the EU on October 31st, presumably by forcing through the current Johnson-negotiated deal in some manner after the pursuit of no-deal Brexit has become increasingly unpalatable and shredded the Tory majority in Parliament.
Johnson’s current deal abandons the so-called “red lines” set previously when the Tories relied on Northern Ireland’s DUP to prop up their majority in the House of Commons.
It would allow for Northern Ireland to remain largely under EU rules while establishing separate trade restrictions between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, infuriating DUP Unionists who demand equal treatment for Northern Ireland and the rest of the union.
Opposition parties are now alternately pressing for a second Brexit referendum and for a vote of no confidence in Johnson as PM, which would lead to new elections once the looming threat of no-deal Brexit on the 31st was averted.
However, surveys have shown the UK public to still be largely ambivalent on Brexit, rarely giving a clear majority to either Leave or Remain.
The Labour party’s shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, has said that his party will back an amendment calling for a second referendum, while the leader of the Scottish SNP at Westminster, Ian Blackford, announced the party will bring a vote of no confidence against Johnson as early as this week.
All of this hinges on the EU’s acceptance of the request for an extension, which will be discussed in the European parliament on Tuesday. Council president Donald Tusk formally accepted the official extension request, passing over Johnson’s inflammatory second letter.
EU MEPs do not have their next official session until the 14th of November, excepting the possibility of an extra emergency session.
