UK Parliament takes on pivotal day on Brexit
LONDON (AP) — Lawmakers returned from their summer recess Tuesday for a pivotal day in British politics as they challenged Prime Minister Boris Johnson's insistence that the U.K. leave the European Union on Oct. 31, even without a withdrawal agreement to cushion the economic blow.
Amid loud cries from protesters on the streets outside the House of Commons, the lawmakers turned to a key piece of legislation on their agenda that would prevent an immediate no-deal Brexit. If it passes this week, Johnson's Downing Street office said he'll call an early election — taking his argument directly to the people.
Johnson, who became prime minister in July, has tried to crack down on members of his Conservative Party who oppose his Brexit plans, warning they would be expelled from the party if they supported the parliamentary efforts to block or delay the withdrawal. The rebels, many of whom have been among the party's lions for decades, are responding with acerbic commentary on TV, social media and the newspapers.
Dominic Grieve, who was attorney general in David Cameron's government, says the expulsion threats demonstrate Johnson's "ruthlessness." Former Cabinet minister Justine Greening said she feared her beloved party was "morphing into Nigel Farage's Brexit Party." Former Treasury chief Philip Hammond warned of the "fight of a lifetime" if officials tried to prevent him from running in the next election.
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