Cornered Johnson denies lying to the queen
LONDON — Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday denied lying to Queen Elizabeth over the reasons for suspending the British parliament after a court ruled his decision was unlawful and opponents called for lawmakers to be recalled to discuss Brexit.
Since Johnson won the top job in July, Britain’s Brexit crisis has spun more furiously, leaving investors and allies bewildered by an array of decisions that have pushed the once stable political system to its limits.
Parliament was prorogued — suspended — on Monday until October 14, a move Johnson’s opponents said was designed to thwart their attempts to scrutinise his plans for leaving the European Union and to allow him to push through Brexit on October 31, with or without an exit deal to smooth the way.
Scotland’s highest court of appeal ruled on Wednesday that the suspension was not lawful and was intended to stymie lawmakers, prompting opponents to question whether Johnson had lied to Elizabeth who must formally order the prorogation.
“Absolutely not,” Johnson said when asked by a TV reporter if he had misled the queen, who is the world’s longest reining monarch and is widely respected for more than 67 years of dedicated service during which she has stayed above the fray of politics.
Johnson said the current session of parliament was longer than any since the English Civil War in the 17th century, adding that lawmakers would have plenty of time to again discuss Brexit after an EU summit on October 17-18.
He said parliament was suspended to allow the government to present its legislative programme. —
London — The British government faced a backlash on Thursday after it was forced to publish documents warning that a nodeal Brexit could lead to civil unrest and shortages of food and medicines.
The “Operation Yellowhammer” papers, which the government released late on Wednesday, revealed that preparedness for leaving the EU without an agreement remained “at a low level”.
The documents — disclosed after MPs voted on Monday for their release — warned of “a rise in public disorder and community tensions” in such a scenario, as well as logjams at Channel ports threatening to impact supplies.
“It is extraordinary that these are things that could flow from the government’s own policy,” opposition Labour lawmaker Hilary Benn said.
“Normally when you’re protecting against something like this it’s a natural disaster, it’s the action of others, (things) you don’t control.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government said they were updating the scenarios, which were last compiled at the start of August, and that it envisaged “the worst case”.
“We’re spending the money on doing lots of things to mitigate those assumptions,” Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told the BBC, noting there were daily meetings to prepare for no deal. “We’ve planned for it and government does that well,” he insisted.
Paul Carter, leader of the local authority in the southeast county of Kent, where there are fears of gridlock following a no-deal Brexit, said Johnson’s administration had made “real progress” recently.
“I’m pretty confident that we can avoid disruption in Kent,” he told the BBC.
But the release has fuelled fears among MPs that a disorderly divorce would be calamitous.
“It is unprecedented,” said MP Dominic Grieve, who was expelled from the ruling Conservatives last week for voting against the government over the issue.
“Even if we are ready for a no-deal Brexit, this is highly disruptive and costly.”
Johnson took office in July promising to finally deliver on the referendum decision by leaving the EU on October 31 no matter what, but finds himself increasingly boxed in. —