Britain will hold its first December election in almost a century after Prime Minister Boris Johnson won approval from parliament on Tuesday (October 28) for an early ballot aimed at breaking the Brexit deadlock.

Britain set for Dec. 12 election to break the Brexit deadlock

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned home from a foreign trip on Wednesday still intent on delivering <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/brexit-row-boris-johnson-defeated-by-uk-supreme-court-but-he-could-still-emerge-as-a-winner-251957">Brexit </a>on October 31 but facing demands from opponents for his resignation after a humiliating Supreme Court ruling that he had unlawfully suspended parliament.

With no end in sight to the three-year crisis over Britain's departure from the European Union, Johnson says the country will leave with or without an exit agreement. Most lawmakers are determined to block a no-deal scenario.

Parliament will sit again on Wednesday but it is unclear exactly what will emerge next from the Brexit deadlock.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/britains-johnson-urges-rouhani-to-release-imprisoned-dual-nationals-251900">Johnson </a>has rejected calls from opponents to resign but opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Wednesday now was not the time for parliament to try and bring him down.

"Quite simply our first priority is to prevent a no-deal exit from the EU on the 31st of October," Corbyn said in an interview on BBC Radio 4.

The House of Commons, where Johnson has no majority, will reconvene on Wednesday after the Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday that his decision to suspend it for five weeks was unlawful and therefore null and void.

Before the suspension, parliament had passed a law requiring Johnson to ask the EU to push back the deadline if no exit deal was agreed by October 19. Corbyn said he and other opposition legislators would focus on ensuring that Johnson abided by that law.

Asked by reporters in New York on Tuesday how he planned to overcome that legal obstacle, Johnson simply ignored the question and insisted Brexit would take place on October&nbsp;31 come what may.

Johnson has repeatedly said his preferred Brexit outcome would be to agree on an exit deal with the EU's 27 other members before the deadline and that he was hopeful he would achieve that.

However, EU negotiators say he has made no new proposals capable of breaking the deadlock over the issue of how to manage the border between Ireland, an EU member, and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, after Brexit.

'Stain on his Character'

Reactions to the Supreme Court's blistering ruling showed that divisions were deeper than ever.

"This ruling leaves a stain on his character and competence," the Financial Times newspaper said in its editorial. "Faced with such a damning judgment, any premier with a shred of respect for British democracy and the responsibilities of his office would resign."

At the other end of the spectrum, the Brexit-supporting Sun newspaper denounced the Supreme Court ruling as a "perilous coup by political judges".

"Boris, victim of yesterday's staggering legal coup, has to respect this court and its supposed impartiality. But in one unprecedented act of constitutional vandalism, 11 judges became an unelected political entity, granting themselves immense power to overrule our government and queen," it said in its leader column.

The Sun was echoing Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons and one of the most ardent advocates of Brexit, who was reported by British newspapers to have described the ruling as a "constitutional coup" during a conference call with Johnson and other cabinet members on Tuesday.

Johnson himself was combative after the ruling, saying in New York that he strongly disagreed with it and complaining that that too many people were trying to thwart Brexit against the will of the people.

But one of his own former cabinet members, Amber Rudd, said it would be irresponsible for the government to cast the ruling as an anti-Brexit move when Johnson's defence all along was that his decision to suspend parliament in the first place had nothing to do with Brexit.

Former minister Dominic Grieve, an anti-Johnson rebel within the ruling Conservative Party, accused the prime minister of behaving "like a bull in a china shop" and taking a sledgehammer to the constitution on a daily basis.

"Boris Johnson has decided to be a populist politician. That's a very dangerous thing to do, because stirring up people against parliament is not going to solve the country's problems. It will create more anger, more tension," he told Sky News.

Opposition leader Corbyn said in the BBC interview that once a no-deal Brexit had been averted, it would be appropriate to move a motion of no confidence to force the government to resign and then have a general election.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned home from a foreign trip on Wednesday still intent on delivering Brexit on October 31 but facing demands from opponents for his resignation after a humiliating Supreme Court ruling that he had unlawfully suspended parliament.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson returned home from a foreign trip on Wednesday still intent on delivering Brexit on October 31 but facing demands from opponents for his resignation after a humiliating Supreme Court ruling that he had unlawfully suspended parliament. With no end in sight to the three-year crisis over Britain's departure from the European Union, Johnson says the country will leave with or without an exit agreement. Most lawmakers are determined to block a no-deal scenario. Parliament will sit again on Wednesday but it is unclear exactly what will emerge next from the Brexit deadlock. Johnson has rejected calls from opponents to resign but opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Wednesday now was not the time for parliament to try and bring him down. "Quite simply our first priority is to prevent a no-deal exit from the EU on the 31st of October," Corbyn said in an interview on BBC Radio 4. The House of Commons, where Johnson has no majority, will reconvene on Wednesday after the Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday that his decision to suspend it for five weeks was unlawful and therefore null and void. Before the suspension, parliament had passed a law requiring Johnson to ask the EU to push back the deadline if no exit deal was agreed by October 19. Corbyn said he and other opposition legislators would focus on ensuring that Johnson abided by that law. Asked by reporters in New York on Tuesday how he planned to overcome that legal obstacle, Johnson simply ignored the question and insisted Brexit would take place on October 31 come what may. Johnson has repeatedly said his preferred Brexit outcome would be to agree on an exit deal with the EU's 27 other members before the deadline and that he was hopeful he would achieve that. However, EU negotiators say he has made no new proposals capable of breaking the deadlock over the issue of how to manage the border between Ireland, an EU member, and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, after Brexit. 'Stain on his Character' Reactions to the Supreme Court's blistering ruling showed that divisions were deeper than ever. "This ruling leaves a stain on his character and competence," the Financial Times newspaper said in its editorial. "Faced with such a damning judgment, any premier with a shred of respect for British democracy and the responsibilities of his office would resign." At the other end of the spectrum, the Brexit-supporting Sun newspaper denounced the Supreme Court ruling as a "perilous coup by political judges". "Boris, victim of yesterday's staggering legal coup, has to respect this court and its supposed impartiality. But in one unprecedented act of constitutional vandalism, 11 judges became an unelected political entity, granting themselves immense power to overrule our government and queen," it said in its leader column. The Sun was echoing Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons and one of the most ardent advocates of Brexit, who was reported by British newspapers to have described the ruling as a "constitutional coup" during a conference call with Johnson and other cabinet members on Tuesday. Johnson himself was combative after the ruling, saying in New York that he strongly disagreed with it and complaining that that too many people were trying to thwart Brexit against the will of the people. But one of his own former cabinet members, Amber Rudd, said it would be irresponsible for the government to cast the ruling as an anti-Brexit move when Johnson's defence all along was that his decision to suspend parliament in the first place had nothing to do with Brexit. Former minister Dominic Grieve, an anti-Johnson rebel within the ruling Conservative Party, accused the prime minister of behaving "like a bull in a china shop" and taking a sledgehammer to the constitution on a daily basis. "Boris Johnson has decided to be a populist politician. That's a very dangerous thing to do, because stirring up people against parliament is not going to solve the country's problems. It will create more anger, more tension," he told Sky News. Opposition leader Corbyn said in the BBC interview that once a no-deal Brexit had been averted, it would be appropriate to move a motion of no confidence to force the government to resign and then have a general election.

Boris Johnson flies back to face UK parliament as Brexit chaos deepens

The UK <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-supreme-court-told-boris-johnson-is-father-of-lies-250462">Supreme Court</a> will say on Tuesday whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson acted unlawfully when he suspended parliament just weeks before Brexit, a ruling that may further complicate his plans to lead his country out of the European Union next month.

A decision against him could lead to parliament reconvening earlier than scheduled, giving it extra time to thwart his Brexit-or-bust agenda to depart the EU by Oct. 31, with or without an exit deal agreed with the bloc.

His foes allege that Johnson suspended the assembly, where he lacks a majority, to sidestep opposition to his plan. Most lawmakers are opposed to a so-called "no-deal Brexit" scenario, fearing that it would cause economic damage and severe disruption, including to food and medicine supply chains.

He says the suspension was necessary to give the government time to prepare a new legislative agenda.

The Supreme Court's ruling is due to be delivered at&nbsp;09.30 GMT. With a constitutional crisis engulfing Britain, there is a high degree of uncertainty on exactly what it might say, and what the ramifications will be for Johnson and for parliament.

On one end of the spectrum, the justices could say that the suspension was a political matter on which they cannot pass judgment. On&nbsp;the other end, they could say that Johnson acted unlawfully and give instructions as to how and when parliament should be recalled. Other outcomes in between the two extremes are possible too.

Striking a defiant tone ahead of the ruling, Johnson rejected criticism from his opponents that his decision to suspend parliament for five weeks at such a crucial time was to prevent it from challenging his Brexit policies.

"Parliament will have bags of time to scrutinise the deal that I hope I will be able to do (with the EU's 27 other members)," he told reporters on Monday during a flight to New York, where he was due to attend the UN General Assembly.

"'Donnez-moi un break (give me a break)&nbsp;is my message to those who say there will be no parliamentary scrutiny. Absolute nonsense," he said.

The Queen Mislead?

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/if-he-loses-in-court-pm-boris-johnson-could-suspend-parliament-again-250663">parliament was suspended</a>, or prorogued in the British jargon, from September 10 to October&nbsp;14. The prorogation was approved by Queen Elizabeth, Britain's politically neutral Head of State, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister as she is required to do under the country's complex, uncodified constitution.

Johnson told the monarch that the suspension was required to give him time to prepare a Queen's Speech, another term of jargon referring to a new legislative agenda. The legal challenge hinges on whether he gave a false pretext and abused the power of prorogation.

Prior to the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-for-courts-to-decide-parliament-suspension-uk-pm-boris-johnsons-lawyer-250441"> suspension</a>, he had lost&nbsp;a series of crucial votes on how and when Britain should execute its exit from the EU, decided in a 2016 referendum that split the nation bitterly.

Asked on the flight to New York whether a ruling by the Supreme Court that he had deliberately misled the queen would make his position as Prime Minister untenable, he replied: "No. I think that the reasons for wanting a Queen's Speech are extremely good."

Before the prorogation, a cross-party rebel alliance of lawmakers managed to force through a law aimed at stopping a no-deal Brexit by requiring Johnson to ask for a three-month extension if he has not been able to strike a deal by October&nbsp;19.

Johnson and other government ministers have maintained that Britain will exit on October&nbsp;31 and will not accept any further delays, indicating that they might seek to ignore the legislation and possibly bring about further court battles.

The UK Supreme Court will say on Tuesday whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson acted unlawfully when he suspended parliament just weeks before Brexit, a ruling that may further complicate his plans to lead his country out of the European Union next month.

The UK Supreme Court will say on Tuesday whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson acted unlawfully when he suspended parliament just weeks before Brexit, a ruling that may further complicate his plans to lead his country out of the European Union next month. A decision against him could lead to parliament reconvening earlier than scheduled, giving it extra time to thwart his Brexit-or-bust agenda to depart the EU by Oct. 31, with or without an exit deal agreed with the bloc. His foes allege that Johnson suspended the assembly, where he lacks a majority, to sidestep opposition to his plan. Most lawmakers are opposed to a so-called "no-deal Brexit" scenario, fearing that it would cause economic damage and severe disruption, including to food and medicine supply chains. He says the suspension was necessary to give the government time to prepare a new legislative agenda. The Supreme Court's ruling is due to be delivered at 09.30 GMT. With a constitutional crisis engulfing Britain, there is a high degree of uncertainty on exactly what it might say, and what the ramifications will be for Johnson and for parliament. On one end of the spectrum, the justices could say that the suspension was a political matter on which they cannot pass judgment. On the other end, they could say that Johnson acted unlawfully and give instructions as to how and when parliament should be recalled. Other outcomes in between the two extremes are possible too. Striking a defiant tone ahead of the ruling, Johnson rejected criticism from his opponents that his decision to suspend parliament for five weeks at such a crucial time was to prevent it from challenging his Brexit policies. "Parliament will have bags of time to scrutinise the deal that I hope I will be able to do (with the EU's 27 other members)," he told reporters on Monday during a flight to New York, where he was due to attend the UN General Assembly. "'Donnez-moi un break (give me a break) is my message to those who say there will be no parliamentary scrutiny. Absolute nonsense," he said. The Queen Mislead? The parliament was suspended, or prorogued in the British jargon, from September 10 to October 14. The prorogation was approved by Queen Elizabeth, Britain's politically neutral Head of State, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister as she is required to do under the country's complex, uncodified constitution. Johnson told the monarch that the suspension was required to give him time to prepare a Queen's Speech, another term of jargon referring to a new legislative agenda. The legal challenge hinges on whether he gave a false pretext and abused the power of prorogation. Prior to the suspension, he had lost a series of crucial votes on how and when Britain should execute its exit from the EU, decided in a 2016 referendum that split the nation bitterly. Asked on the flight to New York whether a ruling by the Supreme Court that he had deliberately misled the queen would make his position as Prime Minister untenable, he replied: "No. I think that the reasons for wanting a Queen's Speech are extremely good." Before the prorogation, a cross-party rebel alliance of lawmakers managed to force through a law aimed at stopping a no-deal Brexit by requiring Johnson to ask for a three-month extension if he has not been able to strike a deal by October 19. Johnson and other government ministers have maintained that Britain will exit on October 31 and will not accept any further delays, indicating that they might seek to ignore the legislation and possibly bring about further court battles.

UK Supreme Court ruling could throw Boris Johnson's Brexit plan into more disarray

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson lost his working <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-am-absolutely-ready-to-fight-elections-british-labour-leader-jeremy-corbyn-247444">parliamentary majority ahead </a>of a crucial Brexit vote on Tuesday after Conservative MP Phillip Lee defected to the pro-EU Liberal Democrats.

"The Liberal Democrats are delighted to announce that Bracknell MP Phillip Lee has joined the party," the Lib Dems said in a statement.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
After a great deal of thought, I have reached the conclusion that it is no longer possible to serve my constituents’ and country’s best interests as a Conservative Member of Parliament. My letter to the Prime Minister: <a href="https://t.co/0QreSbSdwR">pic.twitter.com/0QreSbSdwR</a>
— Dr Phillip Lee MP (@DrPhillipLeeMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrPhillipLeeMP/status/1168898191103864832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"After a great deal of thought, I have reached the conclusion that it is no longer possible to serve my constituents’ and country’s best interests as a Conservative member of Parliament," Lee said in his tweet while publishing his resignation letter.

"This Conservative government is aggressively pursuing a damaging <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-to-lose-16-billion-in-eu-exports-in-case-of-no-deal-brexit-un-247458">Brexit in unprincipled</a> ways," said Lee.

"It is using political manipulation, bullying and lies. And it is doing these things in a deliberate and considered way," he added.&nbsp;

Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson said she was "delighted" by the defection.

"He shares our commitment to prevent a disastrous No Deal Brexit, and to stop Brexit altogether," she said.&nbsp;

Addressing the British Parliament PM Johnson said: "We will deliver Brexit," adding," there will be no pointless delay."

"We need to respect the people's referendum," the British prime minister added.

"We will get the deal by October 31," Johnson assured Parliament.&nbsp;Johnson added that he would be making his first visit to Ireland on Monday.

"I will be discussing it with the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar when I see him in Dublin on Monday," Johnson told the British Parliament.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson lost his working parliamentary majority ahead of a crucial Brexit vote on Tuesday after Conservative MP Phillip Lee defected to the pro-EU Liberal Democrats.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson lost his working parliamentary majority ahead of a crucial Brexit vote on Tuesday after Conservative MP Phillip Lee defected to the pro-EU Liberal Democrats. "The Liberal Democrats are delighted to announce that Bracknell MP Phillip Lee has joined the party," the Lib Dems said in a statement. After a great deal of thought, I have reached the conclusion that it is no longer possible to serve my constituents’ and country’s best interests as a Conservative Member of Parliament. My letter to the Prime Minister: pic.twitter.com/0QreSbSdwR — Dr Phillip Lee MP (@DrPhillipLeeMP) September 3, 2019 × "After a great deal of thought, I have reached the conclusion that it is no longer possible to serve my constituents’ and country’s best interests as a Conservative member of Parliament," Lee said in his tweet while publishing his resignation letter. "This Conservative government is aggressively pursuing a damaging Brexit in unprincipled ways," said Lee. "It is using political manipulation, bullying and lies. And it is doing these things in a deliberate and considered way," he added. Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson said she was "delighted" by the defection. "He shares our commitment to prevent a disastrous No Deal Brexit, and to stop Brexit altogether," she said. Addressing the British Parliament PM Johnson said: "We will deliver Brexit," adding," there will be no pointless delay." "We need to respect the people's referendum," the British prime minister added. "We will get the deal by October 31," Johnson assured Parliament. Johnson added that he would be making his first visit to Ireland on Monday. "I will be discussing it with the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar when I see him in Dublin on Monday," Johnson told the British Parliament.

UK PM Johnson loses parliamentary majority ahead of Brexit vote

The president of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-johnsons-backstop-elimination-unacceptable-eu-chief-brexit-negotiator-michel-barnier-238484">European Commission</a> Jean-Claude Juncker told Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday that EU officials have no mandate to renegotiate the Brexit withdrawal agreement.

The pair spoke on the telephone for the first time since <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/committed-to-leaving-eu-on-october-31-whatever-the-circumstances-pm-boris-johnson-in-parliament-238407">Johnson took power</a> on a platform of taking Britain out of the EU on October 31 with or without a formal divorce accord.

"President Juncker listened to what Prime Minister Johnson had to say, reiterating the EU's position that the Withdrawal Agreement is the best and only agreement possible -&nbsp;in line with the European Council guidelines," Juncker's spokeswoman said after the call.

Juncker also repeated the EU's offer to consider inclusion of any new demands from the UK into a non-binding political declaration that was negotiated to accompany the divorce deal.

EU negotiators would "analyse any ideas put forward by the United Kingdom, providing they are compatible with the Withdrawal Agreement," the former prime minister from Luxembourg told Johnson.

Juncker's spokeswoman said "the two exchanged mobile phone numbers and agreed to remain in touch."&nbsp;

"President Juncker reiterated that the Commission remains available over the coming weeks should the United Kingdom wish to hold talks and clarify its position in more detail," she said. 
&nbsp;

The president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker told Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday that EU officials have no mandate to renegotiate the Brexit withdrawal agreement.

The president of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker told Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday that EU officials have no mandate to renegotiate the Brexit withdrawal agreement. The pair spoke on the telephone for the first time since Johnson took power on a platform of taking Britain out of the EU on October 31 with or without a formal divorce accord. "President Juncker listened to what Prime Minister Johnson had to say, reiterating the EU's position that the Withdrawal Agreement is the best and only agreement possible - in line with the European Council guidelines," Juncker's spokeswoman said after the call. Juncker also repeated the EU's offer to consider inclusion of any new demands from the UK into a non-binding political declaration that was negotiated to accompany the divorce deal. EU negotiators would "analyse any ideas put forward by the United Kingdom, providing they are compatible with the Withdrawal Agreement," the former prime minister from Luxembourg told Johnson. Juncker's spokeswoman said "the two exchanged mobile phone numbers and agreed to remain in touch." "President Juncker reiterated that the Commission remains available over the coming weeks should the United Kingdom wish to hold talks and clarify its position in more detail," she said.

Cannot renegotiate Brexit withdrawal agreement: European Commission president Juncker to PM Johnson

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in central London on Wednesday (July 24) to protest against Britain's newly appointed Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Colourful street party protesters reject Britain’s new PM