London: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was on Thursday kicking off what is in effect a poll campaign, casting an alliance of opposition parties trying to block a ‘no-deal’ Brexit as defeatists surrendering to the European Union.
As the UK spins towards a election, Brexit remains up in the air more than three years after Britons voted to leave the bloc in a 2016 referendum. Options range from a turbulent ‘no-deal’ exit to abandoning the whole endeavour.
After wresting control of the lower House of Parliament on Wednesday, an alliance of Opposition parties and rebels expelled from Johnson’s Conservative party voted to force him to seek a three-month delay to Brexit rather than leaving without a deal on October 31, the date now set in law. Behind the sound and the fury of the Brexit crisis, an election now beckons for a polarised country. The main choices on offer are Johnson’s radical insistence on leaving the EU on October 31, come what may, and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s socialist vision, coupled with a promise of a fresh referendum with an option to stay in EU.
“Boris will argue that it is now time for the people to decide after parliament has failed them, so we can resolve this once and for all,” a spokesman for the prime minister said.
“Jeremy Corbyn continues not only to block Brexit but is now also stopping the people having their say by refusing a general election.”
The opposition Labour Party cast Johnson’s language — including calling Corbyn a “chicken” — as pathetic, said he was trying to act like US President Donald Trump, and compared him to a 3-year-old toddler having a tantrum.
Asked if Brexit would happen on Oct. 31, Johnson’s senior adviser Dominic Cummings told Reuters: “Trust the people.”
