By Spy Reporter
The United Kingdom is set to officially endorse its exit from the Euroepan Union by October 31, 2019.
This comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson refused to sign a letter by British lawmakers asking Brussels for another Brexit delay, calling the possible extension “deeply corrosive” for the country.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove stated on Sunday that the United Kingdom will leave the European Union by the 31 October deadline, noting that Parliament can’t change the government’s stance on the matter.
He also stressed that the risk of a no-deal scenario has grown as the bloc can’t guarantee another delay for London.
The statements came after Johnson denied reports that he asked European Council President Donald Tusk to set a new Brexit deadline for 31 January 2020, stressing that Parliament had forced cabinet to send the letter to Brussels.
Legislator also adopted a bill on Thursday, withholding approval on the deal with the EU, negotiated by the PM Johnson earlier in the week, and urged him to extend the Brexit withdrawal date.
However, Brussels asked British officials to comment on the country’s next step, while Tusk said that consultations within the bloc may take up to several days.
“We’re preparing to ensure that if no extension is granted that we have done everything possible in order to leave without a deal”, Chancellor Gove said, announcing that the government is “triggering Operation Yellowhammer”.
The plan aims to prevent the worst-case options that may follow a hard Brexit, including issues regarding the status of UK citizens in Europe, possible food supply disruptions or sudden price hikes due to panic buying, border crossing issues, banking and finance industry problems, healthcare, national security, among others.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said that many people in the European Union are deeply uncomfortable about a further Brexit delay. He stated that there are now enough votes in support of Johnson’s plan in the House of Commons to pass the agreement with the EU.
“He [Boris Johnson] has got that deal. We seem to have the numbers in the House of Commons. Why hasn’t Parliament pushed this through? That is what we are going to do next week”, Raab wondered.
