No-deal Brexit Becomes More Likely As Queen Elizabeth Approves Boris Johnson’s Request to Suspend Parliament
Queen Elizabeth II approved Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s request to suspend the UK parliament on Wednesday, making a “no-deal” Brexit increasingly likely.
Unless Parliament is able to quickly agree on a different plan, the UK will crash out of the European Union on Oct. 31, with no deals in place to protect its trade with Europe.
Johnson requested to suspend Parliament just a few days after they returned from a summer recess (scheduled for Sept. 3) and just a few weeks before the Brexit deadline.
The Queen approved the suspension of Parliament to start "no earlier than Monday 9th September and no later than Thursday 12th September" and last until Oct. 14, according to a statement released Wednesday. When Parliament returns, it will have just 17 days to cobble together a Brexit deal — something it has been unable to do for the past three years.
Opponents of a no-deal Brexit have accused Johnson of staging a “coup” to push his plans for Brexit through. Others have called it "profoundly undemocratic," according to The Independent.
President Donald Trump tweeted on Wednesday that “Boris is exactly what the U.K. has been looking for, & will prove to be ‘a great one!’ Love U.K.”
Would be very hard for Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of Britain’s Labour Party, to seek a no-confidence vote against New Prime Minister Boris Johnson, especially in light of the fact that Boris is exactly what the U.K. has been looking for, & will prove to be “a great one!” Love U.K.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 28, 2019
Johnson took over the role of Prime Minister from Theresa May last month. May resigned from the role after failing multiple times to secure a Brexit deal.
A no-deal Brexit puts the UK’s trade and supply chain in jeopardy and could affect the country’s place in the global economy. After the announcement of Parliament’s suspension, the British pound dropped 1.1% against the dollar. (As of Wednesday afternoon, one British pound is worth about $1.22 USD. On June 23, 2016, the day of the Brexit vote, the pound was worth $1.47.)
Government analysts have said that a no-deal Brexit is likely to endanger the country’s food and medicine supplies. A hard exit would mean prices will likely increase due to tariffs and the supply chain would be disrupted due to new checks on goods at the border.
Some politicians are still attempting to avoid a no-deal Brexit. Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn wants to introduce a “no-confidence” vote to remove Johnson from power. If that were to happen, Corbyn would have to hastily form an emergency government to negotiate a Brexit extension and prevent a hard, no-deal Brexit.
Another option could see Parliament pass a law decreeing it illegal to leave the EU without a deal, which could force Johnson to call for another election in the UK.
