UK prime minister vows to leave EU by 31 October after losing poll

By Jay Jackson, Illinois Intelligencer
20 Oct 2019, 03:13 GMT+10

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is sticking to his guns despite failing to get parliamentary backing to his deal on Saturday to exit Brexit with a deal.
Johnson was overruled by a 322 to 306 vote which now requires him to seek a deadline to the 31 October deadline to leave the European Union.
Johnson however says he will not entertain seeking a delay and says he is not legally required to do so.

LONDON, UK - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is sticking to his guns despite failing to get parliamentary backing to his deal on Saturday to exit Brexit with a deal.

Johnson was overruled by a 322 to 306 vote which now requires him to seek a deadline to the 31 October deadline to leave the European Union.

Johnson however says he will not entertain seeking a delay and says he is not legally required to do so.

"I will not negotiate a delay with the EU and neither does the law compel me to do so," he said following the vote.

Johnson has consistently said the UK will leave the EU, with or without a deal at the end of this month.

He says he is not "daunted or dismayed" by the parliamentary defeat and vowed to press on with his deal, or his commitment to leave without a deal if one is not agreed.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said this would be opposed. "The prime minister must now comply with the law. He can no longer use the threat of a no-deal crash-out to blackmail members to support his sell-out deal," he said Saturday.

The European Union remains on the sidelines, saying it is a matter for Britain.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Illinois Intelligencer.

More Information