(VOVWORLD) - Brexit was never going to be easy for Britain and the EU. Two months ahead of Britain’s scheduled departure from the EU, exiting with or without a deal remains a point of disagreement in Britain. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has decided to make the dramatic move of temporarily suspending parliament so MPs will have less time to try to stop or delay Britain’s exit from the EU on October 31st.
 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson |
In a referendum in June, 2016, a majority of Britons voted to exit the EU. Since then Parliament and the government have negotiated several plans for leaving the EU. Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, resigned after failing to persuade Parliament to approve her Brexit deal with the EU.
Johnson’s dramatic decision
Boris Johnson took office in late July determined to take Britain out of the EU. He asked Queen Elizabeth to “prorogue” Parliament until October 14th and the Queen approved his request.
Johnson said his move to close parliament would allow his government a fresh start to set a “new bold and ambitious domestic legislative agenda for the renewal of Britain after Brexit.” MPs will have enough time to discuss Brexit and other issues. He warned that if MPs try to stop a Brexit on October 31, they will cause long-term damage to their political parties and the public’s trust.
Analysts say a parliamentary suspension will give no-deal Brexit opposers less time to interfere. Their only option will be a vote of no-confidence in the Prime Minister. But to pass a vote of no-confidence in Boris Johnson’s government would require that Conservative MPs vote against their Party, which is highly unlikely.
The government said Monday it will call a general election on October 14th if Parliament passes a bill this week blocking a no-deal Brexit. Johnson says that with Parliament support he can achieve a revised deal with the EU on October 17th, the date of the next EU summit.
Dissatisfaction
Johnson’s tough move has stirred a backlash among his opponents, who say the Prime Minister is trying to set up a no-deal outcome, which will allow Britons to leave the EU without any commitment or trade regulation on post-Brexit relations nor citizenship in the EU.
More than 1.3 million Britons have signed a petition asking the court to look into the impact and intention of the prorogation.
Opposition party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson have asked to meet Queen Elizabeth to oppose the decision to suspend Parliament. Thousands of people took to the streets in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh to oppose the Prime Minister’s decision.
Despite Johnson’s assurance that Brexit issues are on track, there is no sign that the EU will take a step back on border control between Ireland, an EU member, and Northern Ireland which is part of the UK.