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A8 WORLD NEWS
Monday 21 october 2019

Boris Johnson faces frenzied week as Brexit deadline nears

By GREGORY KATZ The court action is aimed
MIKE CORDER at keeping Johnson from
Associated Press taking Britain out of the EU
LONDON (AP) — British without a deal.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson Johnson has long declared
faces a frenzied week of that he plans to take the
activity in Parliament, and U.K. out of the EU on Oct.
possibly in the courts, as he 31 with or without a divorce
tries to woo rebellious law- deal, and his minister in
makers in time to meet the charge of Brexit again em-
Oct. 31 Brexit deadline. phasized that stance.
Johnson has vowed to "We are going to leave by
avoid needing yet another Oct. 31st," Michael Gove in-
extension to that deadline, sisted Sunday. "We have the
even though he has formal- means and the ability to do
ly asked — in distinctly un- so." Gove also said he was
enthused tones — for a de- holding a special meeting
lay that is being considered to discuss Operation Yel-
by European Union leaders. lowhammer, the govern-
EU officials haven't yet re- ment's "no-deal" planning
sponded to his request for apparatus, to make sure
more time. They are torn Britain is ready for an Oct.
between a wish to finally 31 departure. The govern-
put the Brexit issue to bed Anti-Brexit demonstrators carry placards and EU flags in London, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. ment's own analysts have
and a devout desire to Associated Press warned an abrupt break
avoid the economic rami- DUP and see if there's any doesn't even want. liament's intent even if he with the EU could lead to
fication of Britain leaving further reassurances that As required by law, John- technically complied with recession, massive delays
without a divorce deal in can be provided," Raab son sent a letter to the EU legal requirements. at British ports, and shortag-
place. said. late Saturday night seeking The Court of Session in Scot- es in food and prescription
Johnson on Sunday used The DUP votes might well a delay to Britain's impend- land is already considering medicine.
surrogates to make the give Johnson a comfort- ing Oct. 31 departure. He the matter and it may end The EU's chief Brexit nego-
case that he likely has the able margin, but it seems waited until the last pos- up being decided in the tiator, Michel Barnier, said
votes needed to gain pas- steadfast in its opposition sible moment, withheld his U.K. Supreme Court, which Tusk would consult with oth-
sage for his new Brexit plan to the plan, which replaces signature and immediately in September ruled that er leaders "in the next days"
and won't need any delay. an earlier divorce deal ne- followed it with a signed Johnson had acted unlaw- about Johnson's request,
British Foreign Secretary gotiated by Theresa May's letter indicating that he fully when he suspended but most signs indicate the
Dominic Raab told the BBC government but rejected doesn't actually favor an- Parliament for five weeks EU would prefer an exten-
he believes Johnson has three times by Parliament. other Brexit extension. as the Brexit deadline crept sion to an abrupt no-deal
enough support to get his Monday will also feature "My view, and the govern- closer. Brexit. While Johnson's Con-
deal through Parliament, more legal action, more ment's position, (is) that Scottish National Party leg- servatives are focused on
but added the government arm-twisting, cajoling and a further extension would islator Joanna Cherry, part getting more votes, the op-
would keep talking with its veiled threats by Johnson damage the interests of the of a group that brought position Labour Party was
Northern Ireland ally, the and his ministers and more U.K. and our EU partners, the earlier successful case calling for a second refer-
Democratic Unionist Party, amendments designed by and the relationship be- against Johnson, said the endum on the whole ques-
to persuade it to back the lawmakers to stymie John- tween us," Johnson wrote legal battle over Brexit con- tion of leaving the EU.
deal. son's plan to have Britain to European Council Presi- tinues. Labour's Brexit spokesman
So far, the party, which leave the 28-nation bloc on dent Donald Tusk. "We're back in court on Keir Starmer said it is "in-
holds 10 seats in Parlia- Oct. 31. His decision to send a sec- Monday morning and it will evitable" that lawmakers
ment, has refused to sup- In the midst of all this, EU ond letter saying he doesn't be possible then to secure opposed to Brexit will put
port Johnson's agreement leaders and officials across really want an extension is the court's assistance if the forward an amendment
because it treats Northern the English Channel were likely to trigger court chal- prime minister has flouted seeking a second referen-
Ireland differently than oth- pondering whether to lenges from opponents the law and the promises dum — something strongly
er parts of the U.K. grant the British leader a who believe he intention- he gave to the court," she opposed by Johnson and
"We'll keep talking to the Brexit extension that he ally set out to block Par- said. his government.q