It’s a do or die week in the U.K. at the moment, as the country heads toward a deadline to withdraw from the European Union without yet having a fixed deal on the terms of the divorce.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is on his knees with lawmakers to support him as a brewing rebellion looms large in Parliament – even from members of his own party — to try to block the U.K. from leaving the bloc without finalizing a deal.
A convention on Monday between Johnson and key government ministers triggered rumors that he was getting ready for early elections. But in his remarks, he denied that he is looking to seek a vote: “I don’t want an election, you don’t want an election – let’s get on with the people’s agenda.”
Parliament is set to return to session on Tuesday after Johnson controversially decided to suspend the body for important upcoming several weeks. That move, which significantly reduced the amount of time Parliament will be in session prior to the Oct. 31 withdrawal deadline, was criticized heavily by many of Johnson’s critics as undemocratic.
On Monday, the voices of protesters could be heard in the background as Johnson was convincing lawmakers to vote against a bill looking to stop him from crashing out of the EU without a deal. A no-deal Brexit is predicted to cause major damage to the economies of both the U.K. and the EU.
He slammed the bill, which MPs opposed to a no-deal Brexit that will be raised tomorrow, as “yet another pointless delay” that worsens the U.K.’s negotiating position.
“On the off chance that they do, they will doubtlessly slash the legs out from under the U.K. position and make any further arrangement totally unthinkable,” he told. “Let’s let our negotiators get on with their work without that sword of Damocles over their necks.”
