More Brexit updates
As October 31 nears, the British exit from the European Union has become increasingly more difficult for British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. Last Tuesday, Conservative Parliamentary Member, Philip Lee, defected to the Liberal Democrat side of the House of Commons. While Johnson was delivering a statement regarding last month's G7 summit, Lee crossed the floor and took a seat on the opposition’s side of the aisle. Lee’s departure from the Conservative Party toppled Johnson’s working majority in Parliament. Consequently, it has become more improbable that Johnson will push through his no-deal Brexit proposal.
As Lee will now sit with the Liberal Democrats who oppose Brexit and seek to possibly remain members of the European Union, it is apparent that Lee is less than pleased with the Conservative Party’s prerogative. Later, Lee said in a statement that he has “...reached the conclusion that it is not possible to serve my constituents’ and country’s best interests as a Conservative Member of Parliament.” Lee believes that Johnson and the Conservative members of Parliament are vigorously forcing an ill-advised plan of action pursuing Brexit. Indeed, Lee is not alone. Many Liberal members of Parliament are concerned about the economic ramifications that are embedded in the UK’s withdrawal agreement. Because the European Union facilitates a free-trade zone of commerce and people among European nations, many Liberal members speculate that the economic damages will heavily outweigh any possible benefit from leaving the European Union. Johnson’s efforts to push a no-deal Brexit has only heightened the concerns of Liberal Parliamentary members.
Furthermore, in a recent line of failures to hold a snap election to leave the European Union before the five-week suspension of Parliament, Johnson is faced with a likely delay of the UK’s departure. With less than two-thirds of the House supporting Johnson’s proposal, the Liberal Democrats are hopeful in delaying Brexit once again and striking a resolution that will result in legislation that will disallow Johnson to pass a no-deal Brexit. Even though the political walls are closing in on Johnson, he still demands that the “government will not delay Brexit any further.”
Matthew Datlof - Contributing Writer