Did Boris Johnson really think he could suspend parliament as a way to get his no-deal Brexit through, threaten to sack Tory rebels for voting to block a no deal default scenario, and get away with it?
In what can only be described as an agonising week for Britain’s new prime minister, Johnson lost his majority when Tory MP Phillip Lee – after accusing the government of “political manipulation, bullying and lies” – defected from his party midway through a speech Johnson was making, and joined the anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats.
The defection was the start of a bitter battle in the House of Commons, resulting in BoJo suffering an embarrassing double defeat as MPs backed legislation to prevent Britain leaving the EU without a deal – then blocked his attempt to call a snap general election on Oct. 15 so that the Tories could regain Brexit composure.
Fulfilling his threats to sack Tories who defied his no-deal Brexit plans, Johnson kicked 21 rebel MPs out of the Conservative party and banned them from standing for the party at a general election. Among those sacked were ex-chancellors and Winston Churchill’s grandson.
Johnson’s brief tenure at No.10 is becoming increasingly fraught and shambolic as the PM faces growing anger from opposition parties, the public and fellow Tory MPs over his dishonest and potentially economy-crippling handling of Brexit.
Even his own brother, Jo Johnson, chose to put the country before family, resigning as a Tory MP and minister after admitting he is “torn between family loyalty and the national interest.”
The unparalleled chaos makes Theresa May’s tenure look like a walk in the park, and given people's level of mistrust and antagonism towards the new PM, BoJo could be about to become the shortest-lived occupant of No. 10 in history.
That said, Johnson’s premiership, while shaky and volatile, hasn’t been wholly overpowered yet. The real concern for many is that the prime minister wins a healthy Conservative majority in a general election, storms ahead with a no-deal Brexit, and, like Donald Trump has done in the U.S., runs roughshod over the political system and succeeds in redefining British politics.
"Stop the Coup"
The immense support for the recent "Stop the Coup" protest indicates that the people of Britain won’t let Johnson destroy the country by leaving the EU deal-less – at least not without a fight.
Since BoJo announced parliament was to be prorogued, demonstrations have been taking place up and down the country. In virtually every city and town, anti-Johnson, anti-Brexit protestors have been gathering in their droves, brandishing "Bring Down Boris" placards, waving EU flags and "Defend Democracy" banners, while chanting “Stop the Coup.”
In London, thousands gathered outside Downing Street to demonstrate against the prorogation of parliament. Addressing the crowds, shadow chancellor John McDonnell labelled Johnson a “dictator.” “We have defeated dictators in the past in our history and we will defeat this dictator under Johnson,” said McDonnell.
Despite the driving rain, an impressive crowd assembled in Buxton in the Peak District, north west England, to show their disapproval of Johnson’s move to suspend parliament. The protestors listened to the High Peak’s Labour MP, Ruth George, deliver a speech on how and why the country needs to defeat Johnson and his allies.
Further north in Glasgow, Jeremy Corbyn told a crowd: “I’m proud to be here with all of you supporting that, to say to Boris Johnson no way, it’s our parliament. No way do you take us out without a deal – we will stop you and give the people their rights and their say to determine their future.”
Labour’s support for a snap election is necessary for Johnson's plan to succeed, as the Fixed Term Parliaments Act requires a two-thirds majority in the Commons for an early election to be authorised.
Whilst Corbyn has always been supportive of another general election in order to get the Tories out, the Labour leader has said his party will not support a snap election until the bill to block a no-deal Brexit has become law.
Labour has also suggested it could seek to delay a snap election until after Oct. 31 to ensure that Johnson is forced to extend Brexit negotiations.
While BoJo and fellow hard right-wingers, including The Sun newspaper, are quick to depict and denounce Corbyn as a chicken for avoiding a snap general election for fear of losing, others view Corbyn’s tactic as a savvy strategy to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
As blogger Another Angry Voice posted on Facebook:
“Jeremy Corbyn has played an absolute blinder by insisting that No Deal By Default is taken off the table before any General Election. The anger from Boris Johnson was plain to see when Corbyn said this.
“It’s masterful stuff from Corbyn, cementing the fact that Labour are keen for an election, but insistent on putting the national interest before their own party political interest in seeking power, by preventing a No Deal Brexit By Default meltdown first.”
