UK Oppn agrees plan to prevent no-deal Brexit
London: In an important breakthrough, the UK's Opposition parties on Tuesday agreed on a strategy to prevent Britain from leaving the European Union without a deal in place by the October 31 deadline.
After a meeting in London called by Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, senior MPs of the country's prominent Opposition parties issued a joint statement, saying that they would work together on passing a legislation in the House of Commons to ensure British Prime Minister Boris Johnson does not pull the UK out of the 28-member economic bloc without an agreement in place.
"The leaders of the Opposition parties held a productive and detailed meeting on stopping a disastrous no-deal exit from the EU... The attendees agreed on the urgency to act together to find practical ways to prevent no deal, including the possibility of passing legislation and a vote of no confidence," the statement read.
"The attendees agreed that Boris Johnson has shown himself open to using anti-democratic means to force through no deal," it added.
The meeting follows concerns that in his pursuit of a "do or die" Brexit, Johnson may attempt to suspend Parliament and prevent MPs from having their say.
The leaders of the Labour Party, the Scottish National Party (SNP), the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru from Wales, the Green Party and the Independent Group for Change have so far failed to agree on a common ground, but after Tuesday's meeting, they claim to be more aligned and will meet again to discuss how to stop the UK crashing out of the EU on October 31.
"With no mandate or majority, the numbers are stacking up against Boris Johnson and his extreme Brexit. The possibility of stopping Brexit is real and must be realised," said Ian Blackford, the SNP leader in the Commons.
"Parliament must grasp this opportunity, unite to stop Boris Johnson shutting down democracy — and be ready to use all mechanisms to block a no-deal disaster, including deploying legislation as a priority.
"The SNP will play our full part and do everything we can to stop Brexit but Scotland's future will not be left in Westminster's hands," he said, indicating the growing voices in favour of Scottish independence in opposition to a damaging Brexit.