UK PM: I’d rather be dead in ditch than delay Brexit

London: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave his first public reaction on Thursday after his Brexit plans were derailed with a triple defeat in Britain’s House of Commons.

Speaking at a Police cadet training centre in Yorkshire, Mr Johnson said; “I’d rather be dead in a ditch than ask the European Union for an extension.”

He was referring to a bill raced through the House of Commons which will force the prime minister to go to a meeting of the EU Council on October 17 to ask for Britain’s exit from the bloc to be delayed if no deal is agreed.

The so-called no-deal bill will prevent Mr Johnson for carrying out his promise to take Britain out of the EU with or without a deal on October 31. Mr Johnson said: “The bill passed yesterday will make it harder for to get a Brexit deal. Under this plan, Brussels would decide how long the UK stayed in the EU. I cannot see how that is democratic.”

As he spoke, the Leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg announced that the government will on Monday make another attempt to call for an early general election. Mr Johnson confirmed he wants an election on October 15.

MPs in the House of Commons voted on Wednesday night to oppose Mr Johnson’s call for an election in what was the third of three defeats he suffered at Westminster.

Mr Johnson again attacked Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for opposing the call for an election, saying he had been demanding an election for several years. Xinhua