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WORLD NEWS Wednesday 11 september 2019

UK opposition rages at Johnson after he suspends Parliament

By JILL LAWLESS Trump-deal Brexit,” Corbyn cess that ended decades
Associated Press told a union conference, of sectarian violence in
LONDON (AP) — Opposi- “No-one can trust the word Northern Ireland.
tion politicians raged Tues- of a prime minister who is Opposition to the backstop
day at Prime Minister Boris threatening to break the was a key reason Britain’s
Johnson’s five-week sus- law to force through no- Parliament rejected May’s
pension of Parliament be- deal. So a general election Brexit deal with the EU three
fore the deadline for Brexit, is coming. But we won’t times earlier this year. British
which drew angry and un- allow Johnson to dictate Brexit supporters oppose
precedented protests in the terms.” Johnson has the backstop because it
the House of Commons. acknowledged that a no- locks Britain into EU trade
Parliament has been pro- deal Brexit “would be a fail- rules to avoid customs
rogued — or suspended ure of statecraft” for which checks, something they say
— at the government’s re- he would be partially to will stop the U.K. from strik-
quest until Oct. 14, a drastic blame. He said he believed ing new trade deals with
move that gives Johnson a Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Pimlico Primary school a deal could be struck by countries such as the Unit-
respite from rebellious law- in London, Tuesday July 10, 2018, with Education Secretary Oct. 18, when leaders of all ed States.
makers as he plots his next Gavin Williamson to meet staff and students. 28 EU countries hold a sum- Johnson was meeting Tues-
move as he tries to lead Associated Press mit in Brussels. day with Arlene Foster,
Britain out of the European and are determined to stop to release the documents. Ursula von der Leyen, who leader of Northern Ireland’s
Union by Oct. 31. him. Opposition legislators, In a statement, the govern- will replace the current Democratic Unionist Party,
Opposition lawmakers backed by rebels in John- ment said it would “con- president of the EU’s exec- which props up his Con-
chanted “Shame on you” son’s Conservative Party, sider the implications of this utive branch, Jean-Claude servative minority govern-
and held up signs reading passed a law that compels vote and respond in due Juncker, in November, said ment. The DUP is staunchly
“Silenced” as Parliament the government to ask the course.” a no-deal Brexit “will be opposed to the backstop,
was formally shut down in EU for a three-month delay Then, early Tuesday, law- way more difficult than an which it says undermines
the early hours of Tuesday if no deal has been agreed makers rebuffed, for a orderly Brexit.” the bonds between North-
morning. As legislators im- by Oct. 19. second time, Johnson’s re- Von der Leyen said Tues- ern Ireland and the rest of
plored House of Commons “I will not ask for another quest for an early election, day that the EU is ready for the U.K.
Speaker John Bercow not delay,” Johnson said. which he said was “the only a no-deal Brexit that would Despite the acrimony en-
to comply, he expressed But he has few easy ways way to break the deadlock see tariffs and other imped- gulfing British politics, some
his displeasure, saying “this out of it. His options — all in the House.” iments imposed on trade lawmakers are calling for
is not a standard or normal of them extreme — include Opposition parties voted between the bloc and Brit- compromise. On Tuesday,
prorogation.” disobeying the law, which against the measure or ain. But she insisted “it’s not a cross-party group of par-
“It’s one of the longest for could land him in court or abstained, denying John- in our common interest.” liamentarians branding
decades and it represents even prison, and resigning son the two-thirds majority The EU says Britain has not themselves MPs for a Deal
... an act of executive fiat,” so that someone else would he needed. They want to produced any concrete urged colleagues to look
Bercow said. have to ask for a delay. make sure a no-deal de- proposals for replacing the again at the rejected with-
The suspension came after Legislators also demanded parture is blocked before contentious “backstop,” a drawal agreement.
lawmakers inflicted a series the government release, agreeing to an election, provision in the withdrawal “There is a silent majority of
of defeats on Johnson’s by Wednesday, emails making a vote before No- agreement reached by people in this country who
Brexit plans. and text messages among vember unlikely. Johnson’s predecessor The- want to move on from this
Johnson says the country aides and officials relating Opposition Labour Party resa May that is designed nightmare — who recog-
must leave the EU at the to suspending Parliament leader Jeremy Corbyn ac- to ensure an open border nize that what’s going on is
end of October, with or and planning for Brexit cused Johnson of seeking between EU member Ire- massively damaging to our
without a divorce agree- amid allegations that the to crash out of the EU and land and the U.K.’s North- country, to our internation-
ment to smooth the way. suspension is being used to seek a “one-sided” trade ern Ireland. al reputation, to our econ-
But many lawmakers fear circumvent democracy. deal with the United States An open border is crucial to omy,” Liberal Democrat
a no-deal Brexit would be Under parliamentary rules, that would damage Britain. the regional economy and lawmaker Norman Lamb
economically devastating, the government is obliged “A no-deal Brexit is really a underpins the peace pro- said.q