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Boris Johnson loses Parliamentary majority, faces Brexit showdown
Britain's Parliament returns from its summer recess and is facing a titanic showdown over Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plans to leave the European Union. Here's what we know:
● Johnson has lost his majority in Parliament, with the defection of Conservative Phillip Lee to the Liberal Democrats.
● The opposition, including members of Johnson's party, is seeking to pass legislation to delay Brexit.
● Johnson has said that if his foes succeed he will call early elections.
List of prime ministers of the United Kingdom by length of tenure
#54: George Canning, 119 days (1827)
#55: Boris Johnson, 40 days (Incumbent) (2019)
See also: Brexit: Tory MP defects ahead of crucial no-deal vote
How Brexit Blew Up Britain's Constitution
(Score: 2, Interesting) by epitaxial on Wednesday September 04 2019, @12:36PM (2 children)
A group of unelected unaccountable officials in Belgium no longer tells the UK how many refugees they need to absorb. What's funny is how quick the pro EU people want to fuck the UK over after they leave. Sounds like a great bunch of people. So they gave countries the option of leaving and when one exercises that option all hell breaks loose? Are they expecting the EU to blacklist the UK and stop all trade and commerce? Or is the EU so petty they would hurt themselves just to spite someone for leaving?
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 04 2019, @01:12PM (1 child)
So Boris Johnson was elected as PM? Theresa May was elected as PM? Both answers are no, they were elected as MP. As they were capable of forming a democratic majority they claim the PM role.
The same is true for the EU, those that can form a democratic majority can claim the relevant roles. Is the current system good enough? hell no. But you don't have to look far in the UK to find many systems that are not elected with similar powers. Starting with the royal family and the house of lords that's already quite a lot of unelected power.
The unaccountable bit is true though, but as far as I know, that's also the case for the UK, the US and any western European government. The accountability goes as far as: maybe he won't get elected next time.
Being Belgian, I don't know anyone that wants to fuck over the UK, we're getting a bit tired of the drama over brexit, especially the UK govs drama. But the UK is our biggest trade partner so we would actually seriously prefer you remain. If you don't, trade will be a hassle for a while, till everyone understands the new process, which will be more complex and time consuming.
Also, Brussels London is like a 2 hour train ride, you'll probably take much longer to get to different parts of the UK than to get to Brussels. (as you seemed to imply that Belgium is so far away and unreachable)
(Score: 3, Interesting) by janrinok on Wednesday September 04 2019, @05:51PM
The royal family have no actual power in politics. A constitutional crisis would result if the Queen did not follow the advice of her Ministers.
The British people are also tired of the drama - this is the politicians failing to carry out their responsibility to govern following the will of the people.
Therein lies the rub. The problem is that a majority in the UK are happy to trade with Europe, exactly as it did when it was the Common Market. What many do not accept is using money from the UK to prop up Greek and Italian governments who cannot get their own finances in order. They do not like the gradual shift that has been seen to federalism over the last couple of decades. There are many benefits from being in the EU but currently many do not think that they are getting value for money. They have seen their industries decimated to please the whim of Europe.
The scare-mongering about 'life after Brexit' is just that - we all managed to live and trade together before the UK joined the EU. It can all be done again in the future. The scares about not being able to take European holidays or attending university in Europe are just not true. Spain, Greece, Italy, France will still want the UK holiday makers to spend their money in their holiday resorts, restaurants and bars (17 million people in Spain in 2017. £37.4 billion spent by Brits in Europe on holidays during the same time period). Universities will be happy to accept paying students in their places of learning.
This is not a one-way transfer of benefits that will be lost, simply something that will need reorganising to make it work. Both sides will want it and will make it happen. But the UK has to leave before anything will be done.