Brexit

BRITAIN: Labour Backs December General Election

The Guardian reports: Jeremy Corbyn has announced that Labour is ready to back a general election now that the EU has granted a three-month Brexit delay, making a pre-Christmas poll all but certain. With the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National party preparing to support a one-line bill tabled by Boris Johnson’s government later on Tuesday, triggering an early poll, …

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Millions In “Brexit” 50p Coins To Be Melted Down

Bloomberg reports: Thousands of 50-pence coins minted to commemorate Brexit on Oct. 31 will be melted down after Prime Minister Boris Johnson accepted an extension from the European Union, two people familiar with the matter said. U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid had announced plans for millions of coins engraved with the date Johnson pledged to leave the bloc, …

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European Union Agrees To Brexit Date Extension

The BBC reports: EU leaders have agreed in principle to extend Brexit until 31 January 2020 – meaning the UK will not leave as planned on Thursday. EU Council President Donald Tusk said it was a “flextension” – meaning the UK could leave before the deadline if a deal was approved by Parliament. It comes as MPs prepare to vote …

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BRITAIN: Boris Johnson Calls For December Election

The BBC reports: Boris Johnson has said he will give MPs more time to debate Brexit deal, but only if they agree to a 12 December general election. The prime minister said he expected the EU to grant an extension to his 31 October deadline, even though he “really” did not want one. He urged Labour to back an election …

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Boris Johnson Loses Key Vote On Brexit Timetable

The BBC reports: MPs have rejected a proposal to examine Boris Johnson’s Brexit bill in the Commons in three days. The Commons supported the Withdrawal Agreement Bill earlier, but have now voted against the short timetable. Earlier, the PM warned he would seek an election if MPs dismissed the plan and the EU granted an extension to 31 October Brexit …

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MPs Narrowly Vote To Delay Boris Johnson’s Brexit Deal

The New York Times reports: Just as Britain appeared on the cusp of a history-making, up-or-down vote on its long-delayed departure from the European Union, the British Parliament struck an impasse on Saturday as lawmakers adopted a measure that delayed a vote on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal with Brussels. The turbulent events left Mr. Johnson’s agreement in limbo, …

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LIVE VIDEO: Brits March For Second Brexit Referendum

The Evening Standard reports: Hundreds of thousands of people have descended on London to demand a final say on Britain’s exit from the European Union. Huge numbers are marching through the capital as part of the People’s Vote demonstration, which is taking place as MPs sit for the first Saturday since the Falklands War to decide the fate of Brexit. …

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Boris Johnson Announces Brexit Deal With EU Leaders

The BBC reports: A Brexit deal has been agreed between UK and EU negotiating teams before a meeting of European leaders in Brussels. Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: “We’ve got a great new deal that takes back control.” The two sides have been working on the legal text of a deal, but it will still need the approval of both …

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Queen To Parliament: Brexit By Oct. 31st Is Top Priority

Agence France-Presse reports: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday set out his government’s priorities at a parliamentary ceremony full of pomp and pageantry attended by the queen, with Brexit top of the agenda. But with time running out for an amicable divorce deal before EU leaders meet later this week, few of the proposals look likely to be enacted, …

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Weekend Negotiations Yield No Solution On Brexit

The Guardian reports: A breakthrough in the Brexit talks has failed to materialise after a weekend of intensive negotiations, with European Union capitals concluding that it may now be impossible for the UK to leave the EU by 31 October with a deal. In a briefing to EU ambassadors on Sunday evening, the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, raised the …

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BRITAIN: Johnson Sees Backlash Over Irish Border Plan

The Guardian reports: Boris Johnson has signalled to the EU that he would make a major U-turn on his plans for the Irish border to successfully secure a 48-hour window of intensive negotiations over a potential Brexit deal. EU diplomats gave the green light to a weekend of talks after being told by the bloc’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, that …

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Johnson Sends EU “Final Offer” On Brexit Compromise

The Associated Press reports: The U.K. will offer the European Union a proposed Brexit deal on Wednesday that represents a compromise for both sides, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said as he urged the bloc to meet Britain halfway and allow for the country’s orderly departure after years of wrangling. Johnson’s speech to Conservative Party members at their annual conference …

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Johnson Slammed For Comments On Murdered MP

The Guardian reports: Boris Johnson has been branded a disgrace for dismissing pleas from Labour MPs to stop using inflammatory language in light of the murder of Jo Cox, telling one that it was “humbug” and another that the best way to honour her was to “get Brexit done”. Johnson caused uproar in the House of Commons after he responded …

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UK Supreme Court: Suspending Parliament Is Unlawful

The BBC reports: Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend Parliament was unlawful, the Supreme Court has ruled. Mr Johnson suspended – or prorogued – Parliament for five weeks earlier this month, but the court said it was wrong to stop MPs carrying out duties in the run-up to Brexit on 31 October. Supreme Court president Lady Hale said “the effect on …

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BREXIT: British Companies Stockpile Holiday Booze

The Guardian reports: Companies across Britain have begun stockpiling beer, wine and spirits to keep the alcohol flowing at Christmas as concerns grow that Brexit could disrupt supplies over the festive period. Rushing to bring forward their imports, firms warn that the Brexit deadline on 31 October stands to clash with the run-up to Christmas, when import volumes rise, temporary …

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Boris Johnson Gets Brexit Ultimatum From EU Leaders

The Independent reports: Top EU leaders have given Boris Johnson an ultimatum to come up with a new Brexit plan by the end of September, or face up to a no-deal. The deadline, agreed at a meeting in Paris on Wednesday evening, comes as the bloc’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier told Mr Johnson to stop “pretending” to negotiate. On Wednesday …

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Boris Johnson Compares Himself To The Incredible Hulk

The Associated Press reports: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has compared himself to the Incredible Hulk in a newspaper interview emphasizing his determination to take Britain out of the European Union next month. The prime minister faces considerable legal and political hurdles but told the Mail on Sunday he will meet the Oct. 31 deadline no matter what. “The madder …

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Boris Johnson Denies Lying To Queen About Parliament

The Guardian reports: Boris Johnson has denied lying to the Queen over the suspension of parliament, insisting such claims were “absolutely not” true. Speaking on a visit to NLV Pharos, a lighthouse tender, which is moored alongside HMS Belfast on the Thames, he was asked if he had lied to the Queen when he asked her to prorogue parliament for …

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UK Court Rules Suspension Of Parliament Is Unlawful

The BBC reports: Boris Johnson’s suspension of the UK Parliament is unlawful, Scotland’s highest civil court has ruled. A panel of three judges at the Court of Session found in favour of a cross-party group of politicians who were challenging the prime minister’s move. The judges said the PM was attempting to prevent Parliament holding the government to account ahead …

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BRITAIN: Chaos And Furor As Parliament Is Suspended

The Guardian reports: There were extraordinary scenes of chaos and anger in the House of Commons overnight as opposition MPs staged a protest against the suspension of parliament for five weeks – a prorogation that the Speaker of the House said represented “an act of executive fiat”. As John Bercow began proceedings to prorogue parliament, a group of opposition MPs …

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