MPs put brakes on Boris’ Brexit

Defiant British PM refuses to seek more time from EU for exit

I WILL tell EU leaders that further delay would be bad for this country, bad for the European Union and bad for democracy. BORIS JOHNSON British Prime Minister

London, Oct. 19: British MPs voted on Saturday to force Prime Minister Boris Johnson to ask the European Union to delay Brexit yet again but he insisted Britain must leave on October 31.

In a day of high drama in the House of Commons, MPs declined to give their backing to the divorce agreement that Mr Johnson struck with the EU this week until accompanying legislation has been passed.

In doing so, MPs triggered a law requiring Mr Johnson to write to EU leaders asking to delay Brexit to avoid a “no deal” departure in less than two weeks. The result is a major blow to Mr Johnson, who said he would rather be “dead in a ditch” than prolong the tortuous Brexit process that has left Britain in political turmoil since the 2016 EU referendum.

But in a typically defiant response, the Conservative leader refused, sparking fresh uncertainty about what happens next.

“I will not negotiate a delay with the EU and neither does the law compel me to do so,” he told MPs, who were sitting on a Saturday for the first time since the 1982 Falklands War.

He said he would tell EU leaders that “further delay would be bad for this country, bad for the European Union and bad for democracy”. The Tory party went further, writing in a tweet: “The PM will not ask for a delay.”

Brussels urged Britain to explain its plan as soon as possible while Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, whose party opposed the deal, said: “The prime minister must now comply with the law.”

Opposition parties and Mr Johnson’s own Northern Irish allies backed an amendment, which requires parliament ratifying the text before Britain leaves the EU.

Mr Johnson said he would introduce legislation next week to implement his Brexit deal, expressing hope that if it passes, Britain could still leave on October 31. The first vote could come as soon as Tuesday.