Johnson loses vote to call election
British PM agrees to extend Brexit deadline
LONDON • Prime Minister Boris Johnson suffered two political defeats on Monday: He was forced to grudgingly accept the European Union’s decision to delay Brexit until January, and then lost a motion in Parliament to stage a general election before Christmas.
But the coalition of lawmakers who have opposed him is splintering, and he may still get support for an early election by different legislation this week.
Johnson on Monday fell short of the two-thirds majority he needed for his election bid. Speaking immediately afterward, he said “we will not allow this paralysis to continue,” and he confirmed speculation that he will try to get a Dec. 12 election by introducing a new, one-line bill requiring only a simple majority.
Two opposition parties — the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party — have suggested they would back something along those lines.
“This House cannot any longer keep this country hostage,” Johnson said. “Now that no-deal is off the table, we have a great new deal … and it’s time for the voters to have a chance to pronounce on that deal.”
Johnson wants an election so he can have a chance to regain his lost parliamentary majority and fulfil his vow to get Brexit done.
“Across the country, there is a widespread view that this Parliament has run its course,” Johnson said.
He blamed the opposition for blocking Brexit.
“They made it inevitable that the people of this country would be retained in the EU, against their will, for at least another three months, at a cost of another billion pounds a month,” Johnson said, adding “they just want to delay Brexit and cancel Brexit.”
Labour, the largest opposition party, has resisted the election push, and its lawmakers mostly abstained in the vote on Johnson’s motion on Monday.
Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn said Johnson was flailing about, and failing to keep his promises. “The reason I’m so cautious is quite simply I do not trust the prime minister,” Corbyn said.
Labour’s reticence to back elections, analysts say, is related to uncertainty about how the party would fare. Some within the upper ranks of the party want to go for it, believing that Corbyn is a proven campaigner. Others say the party’s messy Brexit position may not go down well on the doorsteps.