UK parliament suspension set to begin after MPs vote on election – World

The British parliament will be suspended for five weeks on Monday after another defeat expected by parliamentarians for Prime Minister Boris Johnson as he struggles to save his hard-line Brexit strategy amid fierce opposition in Westminster.

The controversial suspension will begin shortly after parliamentarians vote again against Johnson's attempt to hold early elections next month, two weeks before the country leaves the European Union.

"The parliament will be extended today at the close of business," Johnson's spokesman said in a daily briefing, using the parliamentary term for suspension.

He added that it would happen regardless of the result of the vote in the October 15 poll.

Johnson held talks with his Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar in Dublin before returning to parliamentary turmoil later Monday.

He ordered the closure in an apparent attempt to hinder a block of parliamentarians from the entire party opposed to a possible Brexit without agreement.

The British leader has promised to remove Britain from the EU before the last deadline of October 31 with or without a formal divorce agreement, despite warnings that the latter scenario would involve economic chaos.

However, the planned suspension has caused the uproar of opposition parliamentarians and conservative critics, who have described the measure as a constitutional scandal.

Have a look: Johnson of the United Kingdom wins Queen's approval to suspend Parliament before Brexit

It seemed to be counterproductive by pushing them to pass legislation last week, which is expected to receive real consent on Monday, which forces Johnson to seek a delay in Brexit if he fails to reach an agreement at an EU summit from 17 to October 18.

Johnson responded to the proposed law trying to force early general elections, but fell short in a vote last week of the necessary support from two-thirds of parliamentarians.

He will try again later on Monday in another vote that is expected to fail.

Opposition party leaders, who met on Monday, promised to continue blocking the instant poll until Brexit has extended beyond October 31.

"He has to ask for an extension," Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn said. Sky news.

"We will do everything possible to prevent us from falling on October 31 and we will support an election when it is clear that we will avoid that collision."

& # 39; Important gaps persist & # 39;

Johnson met Varadkar on Monday in hopes of laying the groundwork for new divorce terms, as he is increasingly cornered only six weeks after replacing his predecessor Theresa May.

The British leader wants the block to eliminate a special provision in the agreement agreed in May to keep the Northern Ireland border open in all circumstances after Brexit, arguing that there are "alternative arrangements."

But Brussels and Dublin have insisted that the so-called backup mechanism must remain in place to ensure that a hard border is not returned between Ireland, a member of the EU, and Northern Ireland ruled by the British, who suffered decades of violence. deadly sectarian

They say Johnson must also propose the details of any viable alternative.

"While they agreed that discussions are at an early stage, common ground was established in some areas, although significant gaps persist," the two leaders said in a joint statement after an hour of talks.

Johnson's decision to extend the parliament until October 14 and his promise to make Brexit is what may have shaken his ruling Conservative Party.

Twenty-one conservative parliamentarians, including the grandson of Winston Churchill, were fired last week for voting in favor of the law aimed at blocking a Brexit without agreement.

The dismissals and the defection of a deputy to the liberal Democrats left him without an active majority.
Several members of his government have also resigned, including his own brother.

& # 39; We have a plan & # 39;

A government minister rejected Sunday's speculation that Johnson had no other real option than to resign. But he could not clearly say how he intended to fulfill all his Brexit promises without somehow changing the law of the United Kingdom.

"Of course it won't violate the law," said Foreign Minister Dominic Raab Sky news. He added that Johnson would "prove to the limit" of the law in court.

However, rebel conservative parliamentarians insist that their strategy to stop Johnson will prevail.

"I remain very, very sure that we can stop the non-agreement because in the end the parliament is sovereign," said Rory Stewart, a former conservative legislator now forced to sit as an independent after rebelling against the government last week.