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Outrage at Johnson’s rhetoric in Brexit impasse
LONDON, Sept 26, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced
an angry backlash from across the political spectrum on Thursday following a
series of angry exchanges in parliament over Brexit.
Tensions boiled over on Wednesday when Johnson went on the offensive after
MPs returned to work following a Supreme Court ruling calling parliament
suspension unlawful.
He refused to apologise and repeatedly slammed parliament for passing a
“surrender act” requiring him to seek a Brexit delay past the October 31
deadline if he fails to reach an exit agreement with the EU.
Britain has been bitterly divided over the issue ever since the 2016 EU
referendum campaign and the government has delayed Brexit twice because
parliament has failed to approve its draft deal with EU leaders.
The real uproar on Wednesday came when Johnson said the best way to honour
Jo Cox — an anti-Brexit Labour MP who was fatally shot and stabbed by a Nazi
sympathiser during the referendum campaign — would be “to get Brexit done”.
“Feel a bit sick at Jo’s name being used this way,” her husband Brendan
tweeted.
“The best way to honour Jo is for all of us (no matter our views) to stand
up for what we believe in… but never to demonise the other side.”
Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn accused Johnson of using
language that was “indistinguishable from (that of) the far right”.
– ‘Toxic’ atmosphere –
Even some members of Johnson’s Conservatives appeared taken aback.
“At a time of strong feelings we all need to remind ourselves of the
effect of everything we say on those watching,” Culture and Media Minister
Nicky Morgan said.
And Jacob Rees-Mogg — a strong Brexit and Johnson supporter who
represents the government in parliament — noted that everyone “had a
responsibility to be mild in our language”.
Parliamentary speaker John Bercow said the atmosphere in parliament was
“toxic” and announced a special debate later on Thursday on the language used
by MPs.
“Treat each other as opponents, not as enemies,” Bercow said.
Security has been stepped up around a number of MPs who reported receiving
death threats over their Brexit positions online.
Johnson was due to meet Thursday with his party’s policy makers as he
plots strategy over the crisis with just a month to go before Britain is due
to leave the EU.
He was expected to try to pass a motion allowing parliament to be
suspended for three days next week during the Conservatives’ annual
conference.
The House of Commons traditionally does not sit on party conference days.
But the opposition argues that the rules should be changed this time
around to let MPs handle Brexit, which could mean the party conference has to
be cancelled or shortened.
Johnson has said he is aiming to reach a deal with Brussels ahead of
October 31 but is ready to take Britain out of the EU without a deal if
necessary.
He has called for an election to resolve the current impasse with MPs, who
have rejected the current version of the deal struck by his predecessor
Theresa May last year.
The opposition warns a no-deal Brexit would be highly disruptive for
Britain’s economy and have said Johnson should first delay Brexit before an
election is held.
The EU says it has not received any comprehensive proposals from Britain
for a new deal.
The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier told reporters: “We are
still ready to work on any legal and operational proposal with the UK”.
“We are still waiting,” he said.
BSS/AFP/RY/1520 hrs