Boris Johnson Hits A Blow As His Party Loses Majority On Brexit
London:Prime Minister Boris Johnson lost his majority in parliament on Tuesday after a Conservative Party MP switched to the ‘anti-Brexit’ Liberal Democrat Party before a crucial vote to pull Britain out of the European Union.
“I don’t want an election but if MPs vote tomorrow to stop the negotiations and to compel another pointless delay of Brexit, potentially for years, then that will be the only way to resolve this,” Boris Johnson was quoted as saying by AFP.
Members of Mr. Johnson’s own Tory party, including Mr. Lee, have worked with opposition lawmakers to draft a bill to force him to delay Brexit if he cannot agree divorce terms with the EU in time.
Mr. Johnson has warned he will prevent any Tory MPs who support the bill from standing for the party in any upcoming election, which is looking increasingly likely.
“This Conservative government is aggressively pursuing a
damaging Brexit in unprincipled ways,” said Lee.
“It is using political manipulation, bullying and lies.
And it is doing these things in a deliberate and considered way,” he added.
One former cabinet minister said they believed swathes of seats were now at risk, including Cheltenham, Chippenham, Guildford and even Surrey Heath, the seat of Michael Gove.
“Threatening no deal essentially hands our core seats across the south-west, south-east and south coast to the Lib Dems,” the ex-minister said. “We’ll lose tons of decent MPs. The Lib Dems will pick off lots of the big beasts in Surrey and have some spectacular gains. Worst of all the new northern core will never materialise – the Labour vote is tribal. It’s a suicidal vote strategy. I’m beginning to think Dominic Cummings is a Lib Dem sleeper agent.”
Jeremy Corbyn said the party had sought legal advice about the issue of timing, and added: “I think the important thing is to stop a no-deal exit and let the people of this country decide their own future.”
The PM’s spokesman insisted it was simply wrong to suggest that the date of polling day could or would be changed. They insisted again that Mr. Johnson did not want an election but MPs determined to block no deal were forcing him into that position.
Speaking this morning, Philip Hammond said he believes today’s deal will get enough backing from his group of “incensed” Tory rebels.
Hammond said it was a “very modest bill in its ambitions” to delay Brexit by three months in order to allow Parliament time to examine any withdrawal agreement with Brussels.
Speaking this morning, Philip Hammond said he believes today’s deal will get enough backing from his group of “incensed” Tory rebels.
Hammond said it was a “very modest bill in its ambitions” to delay Brexit by three months in order to allow Parliament time to examine any withdrawal agreement with Brussels.
The 328 to 301 vote on Tuesday night clears the way for Johnson’s opponents to introduce a bill on Wednesday that would seek to prevent Britain from leaving the European Union without a deal October 31.
