The opposition Labor Party said on Thursday that attempting to prevent Prime Minister Boris Johnson from bringing Britain out of the European Union without a withdrawal agreement would trigger an urgent discussion in parliament next week.
More than three years after the nation voted to leave the bloc in a referendum, the United Kingdom is heading for its most severe constitutional crisis in centuries and a fight with the EU over Brexit in just over two months.
Johnson, who became prime minister last month, raged Wednesday’s opponents of a no-deal Brexit by using a parliamentary mechanism to order parliament’s suspension for nearly a month.
Lower House Speaker John Bercow called this a constitutional outrage because it restricted the time that the legislature had to debate and shape the course of British history.
Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said his party would initiate a law-making process against a no-deal Brexit that he said would be harmful to employment and the economy as quickly as parliament returns from its summer break on Tuesday.
“What we are going to do is try to politically stop him (Johnson) on Tuesday with a parliamentary process in order to legislate to prevent a no-deal Brexit and also to try and prevent him shutting down parliament in this utterly crucial period,” Corbyn told reporters.
“This country is in danger of crashing out on the 31st of October with no deal,” he said. “We have got to stop that and that is exactly what we will be doing next Tuesday.”
Five other opposition parties, including the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party, subsequently released a joint Labor declaration calling on Johnson to allow legislators to vote on the suspension of parliament.
Johnson’s move to suspend parliament for longer than usual has been cheered by the U.S. President Donald Trump, however, provoked strong criticism from some British legislators, including some of Johnson’s own ruling Conservative Party, and the media.
Brexit continues in the air after years of tortuous negotiations and a series of political crises since the UK voted 52% to 48% to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum. Options vary from an acrimonious October 31 divorce and an election to a friendly exit or even another referendum.
Ministers of the European Union encouraged Britain to choose an orderly Brexit, with some expressing open concern that the move by Johnson to suspend parliament increased the danger of a messy split.
Economists have projected extensively that a Brexit no-deal would bring a harmful blow to the economy of Britain.
Three-month sterling implied volatility soared, suggesting traders are bracing between now and the anticipated Oct. 31 Brexit date for more large price fluctuations. JPMorgan increased the likelihood of a no-deal Brexit from 25% to 35%.
Johnson’s Brexit negotiator, David Frost, was in Brussels on Wednesday for talks with the European Executive Commission, but Dutch Foreign Minister Stephan Blok said the parties were unable to bridge divisions.
The initial March 29 Brexit deadline was postponed as the predecessor of Johnson, Theresa May, attempted in vain to rally lawmakers behind the terms of the withdrawal of Britain. Parliament dismissed the agreement it negotiated with the bloc three times.
Johnson said he was looking for a revised divorce arrangement with the EU but promised the nation would leave with or without a withdrawal arrangement on October 31.
His order to suspend parliament used the Queen’s Speech date-to be held on Oct. 14 and preceded by the House of Commons suspension-to guarantee that Parliament will not sit between mid-September and mid-October.
In fact, opponents of a no-deal Brexit in parliament, the squeezed schedule forces to show their hand and act in as few as four days next month sitting. Parliament returns on Sept. 3 from its summer vacation.
There is probable to be an election, lawmakers said.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, a Brexit supporter responsible for handling parliamentary government business said opponents made “the candy-floss of outrage” and dared to do their worst.
In the 650-seat House of Commons, there is a tiny majority against a no-deal Brexit, although it is uncertain whether Johnson’s opponents within the Conservative Party would collapse his government in a vote of no confidence.
“It does look like next week is essentially the only opportunity that parliament will have to maintain some control over this process and ensure that it has a say before we leave without a deal,” Conservative lawmaker David Gauke said.