British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under pressure to summon lawmakers from their summer recess so parliament can debate Brexit.
More than 100 British lawmakers sent a letter published yesterday to Johnson calling for parliament to convene permanently until October 31, the date for the UK's departure from the European Union. The summer recess ends on September 3.
"Our country is on the verge of an economic crisis, and we are heading towards a Brexit without agreement," wrote the letter, signed by opposition lawmakers and leaders who do not want Britain out of the EU, or hope to avoid Brexit without agreement. "We are facing a national emergency and parliament should be called to convene immediately," they said.
Parliament is supposed to stop again shortly after its return as major parties hold their annual conferences in September. The British Prime Minister has repeatedly confirmed his intention to remove the UK from the European Union on 31 October, whether it happens with or without agreement.
"Without agreement" is better than Corbin
The leader of the opposition Labor Party, Jeremy Corbin, is calling for a no-confidence vote on conservative Johnson as soon as parliament reconvenes.
If he succeeds in overthrowing Johnson, Corbin hopes to become acting prime minister, demanding a new postponement of Britain's departure from the EU, thereby avoiding an exit without agreement and calling for early legislative elections. "What we need is a government that is ready to negotiate with the EU so that we don't have a catastrophic exit on October 31," Corbin said on Saturday. "It is clear that the government does not want to do that," he said.
But a YouGov poll showed Corbin does not have the support of most Britons.
According to the poll, conducted Thursday and Friday on a representative sample from 1968 Britain, 48% of those polled said they would prefer the UK to leave the EU without an agreement that Corbin become prime minister. In contrast, 35% of those surveyed said they support Corbin as prime minister and organize a new referendum on whether the UK will leave or remain in the EU. The remaining 17% of respondents refused to give their opinion on this issue.
Asked about Britain's exit from the EU without an agreement, 49% said they would consider it an unacceptable way out, while 38% said the opposite.
Shortage of food
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain could face a shortage of food, fuel and medicine and chaos at its ports if Brexit was not agreed, the Sunday Times reported, citing a government report.
The document states that it will impose a form of border on the island of Ireland.
The leaked document prepared by the Prime Minister's Office this month speaks of the possible repercussions of Brexit without an agreement, the newspaper said.
The document says congestion can affect fuel distribution, while 85 percent of trucks using Europe's main ports may not be ready for French customs. The paper said fresh food availability would decline, and prices could rise.
Balmoral trip
Meanwhile, Carrie Simmonds, Johnson's girlfriend, will accompany the Prime Minister when he heads to Queen Elizabeth II at her private residence in Scotland.
The Queen traditionally hosts the Prime Minister on the weekend in September. Simonds, a public relations expert, will join Johnson in Balmoral next month, the Associated Press reported, citing sources.
Simonds is likely to be the first unmarried partner of a functioning prime minister, based in Balmoral.
48%
Those surveyed said they would prefer Britain to leave the EU without agreement that Jeremy Corbin would become prime minister.
A government document says congestion caused by an exit without agreement could affect fuel distribution, while 85% of trucks using Europe's main ports may not be ready for French customs.