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WORLD NEWS Saturday 31 auguSt 2019

UK's Boris Johnson faces mounting challenges to his plans

By GREGORY KATZ legal bid want Johnson to
Associated Press submit a sworn affidavit
LONDON (AP) — British explaining his reasons for
Prime Minister Boris John- suspending Parliament. It
son's decision to suspend is not clear if such a state-
Parliament for part of the ment will be required.
run-up to the Oct. 31 Brexit The defiant prime minister
deadline faces mounting warned Friday that opposi-
legal and political chal- tion to his plans is weaken-
lenges ahead of a week- ing Britain's negotiating po-
end of planned street pro- sition by giving EU leaders
tests. the impression that Parlia-
There are three ongoing ment may step in to block
court tests to Johnson's Brexit.
plan, which he says is rou- "I'm afraid that the more
tine but which will shorten our friends and partners
the time in which oppo- think, at the back of their
nents in Parliament could mind, that Brexit could
seek to pass legislation be stopped, that the U.K.
blocking a disorderly "no could be kept in by Parlia-
deal" departure from the ment, the less likely they
European Union. are to give us the deal that
A Scottish judge Friday de- Anti-Brexit demonstrators wave banners and flags outside the Cabinet Office in London, Friday, we need," Johnson told Sky
clined to issue an immedi- Aug. 30, 2019. News. He claimed there
ate injunction to block the Associated Press is still time to make a deal
suspension of Parliament with the EU.
but set up a full hearing served in government as a out the United Kingdom. that includes people taking Johnson's predecessor,
Tuesday on the legal bid minister and prime minister, Opponents of a possible to the streets, that includes Theresa May, reached an
launched by cross-party and also in Parliament for "no deal" Brexit will have to people taking to the air- agreement with EU lead-
legislators determined to many years as a member hustle to craft a bill in the waves, that includes peo- ers, but Britain's Parliament
keep Parliament in session. of the House of Commons," constrained time period. ple going to court." repeatedly rejected the
A separate case in Lon- he said. Success may depend on In Scotland, Judge Ray- terms.
don has also received the A case is being heard in whether a significant num- mond Doherty turned At a meeting in Helsinki,
heavyweight backing of Northern Ireland, as well. ber of legislators from John- down a bid for an immedi- some senior EU officials ex-
former Prime Minister John The various courts are being son's Conservative Party ate intervention but said a pressed concern about
Major — a fellow Conserva- asked to intervene in what are willing to join forces with "substantive" hearing Tues- Johnson's tactics and the
tive from Johnson's party — is seen by Johnson's oppo- Labour and other parties to day would allow the case rising possibility of a "no
and from Tom Watson, the nents as a power grab that frustrate the prime minister's to be heard in a timely deal" Brexit.
deputy leader of the oppo- undercuts the sovereignty oft-stated goal of taking fashion. He did agree to "Westminster is the mother
sition Labour Party. of Parliament. Britain out of the EU on Oct. move the full hearing from of all parliaments, and now
Major hopes to formally join It is too early to gauge the 31 regardless of whether a Sept. 6 to Tuesday to speed you have a situation where
the case started by activist possible impact of street deal is in place. up the process. that parliament is in danger
Gina Miller so he can argue protests planned for Satur- Shami Chakrabarti, a se- "It's in the interest of justice of being sidelined," Luxem-
that Johnson has exceed- day in London and other nior adviser to the Labour that it proceeds sooner bourg Foreign Minister Jean
ed his authority by asking major British cities. Activ- Party on justice issues, told rather than later," he said. Asselborn said.
Queen Elizabeth II to shut- ists hope a massive turnout BBC radio that she is hope- The case was brought by a He believes "no deal" would
ter Parliament for several could influence vacillat- ful there is enough opposi- cross-party group of rough- inflict needless pain.
weeks during the crucial ing members of Parliament tion in Parliament to block ly 70 legislators seeking to "I'm worried," he said. "A
period before the Brexit when it reconvenes on Johnson from carrying out broaden the period for par- no deal is a catastrophe.
deadline. Tuesday after a summer re- a "no deal" departure. liamentary debate in a bid It could cost thousands
"If granted permission to cess. "If they try any more of this to prevent a disorderly de- and thousands of jobs and
intervene, I intend to seek Organizers say more than stuff we will use any means parture by Britain from the needlessly create misery. I
to assist the court from 30 protests have been necessary to prevent this European Union. hope that political reason
the perspective of having planned in cities through- undemocratic behavior — The legislators backing the will prevail."q