United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum
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They debated and argued until late at night, then the British MPs decided: There should be no new elections in the country. In doing so, they rejected a request from Prime Minister Boris Johnson. He had stressed just before the vote, new elections were the only way to get out of the Brexit dead end.
In advance, it was considered almost certain that Johnson would miss the necessary two-thirds majority of MPs in the vote on the night of Tuesday. That's how it happened - it's already the second failed attempt within a week.
For the British Parliament, it was the last day of the session before Johnson's forced break. MEPs will not meet again until 14 October - just over two weeks before Britain's planned withdrawal from the European Union on 31 October.
Johnson excludes application for Brexit shift
The PM had conceded several defeats on Monday.
- The House of Commons called on the government to issue documents on plans for a no-deal Brexit and the compulsory break of Parliament. The resolution was adopted with 311 to 302 votes.
Critics accuse Johnson of using the parliamentary recess tactically to restrict the ability of the deputies before the planned EU exit on 31 October. Now they want to see the communication of government employees in advance of the decision, to private emails and messages from WhatsApp and similar short message services.
However, according to reports, the government does not want to meet the demand. It is unclear what kind of coercive measures MEPs have to enforce their demands. - In addition, on Monday came the law against an unregulated Brexit in force. Queen Elizabeth II had approved the law, said the chairman of the British House of Lords. It had been whipped through both chambers of parliament at a rush last week. The no-deal-brexit law requires the prime minister to request an extension of the Brexit deadline, expiring on October 31, if no exit agreement has been ratified by October 19.
Johnson rejects an extension; he would prefer to lie "dead in the ditch," he said a few days ago. On Monday evening, he declared in parliament that despite the new law, he did not want to apply for a time extension for his country's exit from the EU: "I will not ask for another shift."
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On Monday, the Speaker of the House of Commons - known in the UK as Speaker - announced his resignation: John Bercow announced that he would resign from office by 31 October. Should a new election be called before that, his term ends with the dissolution of parliament.
"During my time as a speaker, I tried to increase the relative authority of this Parliament, which I absolutely will not apologize to anyone, nowhere, at no time," Bercow said in an emotional address. Most MPs applauded him with long applause, but some remained seated.
Bercow had played a prominent role in the Brexit power struggle between the government and parliament. Only last week he allowed the opposition and rebels from the government faction to initiate a legislative process against the will of the government. Bercow was accused of intervening in favor of the pro-European parliamentarians. He denied that.