LONDON, Oct 27, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The leaders of two British opposition
parties unveiled a plan Saturday to give Prime Minister Boris Johnson the
snap election he wants — but only if EU leaders delay Brexit until January.
Johnson has tried twice to call an early election to break the deadlock in
the House of Commons over Britain’s departure from the European Union and
will try again in a vote on Monday.
But he needs the support of opposition MPs and they have refused to back a
poll until the risk of a disorderly “no deal” Brexit on October 31 is
completely removed.
Johnson was forced by law to ask EU leaders last weekend to delay Brexit
after MPs refused to back the divorce terms he struck with Brussels.
EU leaders are expected to decide on Monday or early Tuesday whether to
grant the three-month delay requested, or to set another date.
The Scottish National Party (SNP) and the Liberal Democrats, who between
them have 54 MPs in the 650-seat Commons, said that a three-month delay to
end-January would see them put forward plans for an early election on
Tuesday.
“If that meaningful extension is secured we will then work together to
bring forward an election this year,” said SNP leader Ian Blackford.
He and Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson have laid out their offer in a letter to
European Council president Donald Tusk.
Johnson has proposed an election on December 12, but only if parliament
ratifies his Brexit deal before then.
The SNP and Lib Dems — who both strongly oppose Brexit — want an election
on December 9.
Johnson late Saturday accused MPs of holding Britain “hostage” by refusing
to back an election or a Brexit deal.
“Millions of businesses and people cannot plan their futures, this
paralysis is causing real damage and the country must move on in 2020,” he
said in a statement.