LONDON (AP) Britains bedeviling Brexit dilemma intensified Friday, as opposition parties refused to support Prime Minister Boris Johnsons call for an election until he secures a delay to Britains exit from the European Union something he vows hell never do.
Johnson insists Britain must leave the EU in 55 days, and says an election is the only way to break the deadlock that has seen lawmakers repeatedly reject the divorce deal on offer, but also block attempts to leave the EU without one.
He wants to go to the public on Oct. 15, two weeks before the scheduled Brexit day of Oct. 31, but needs the support of two-thirds of lawmakers to trigger a snap election.
Johnson lost a vote on the same question this week, but he plans to try again Monday.
After discussions Friday, lawmakers from several opposition parties said they would not back an election unless the government asked the EU to postpone Brexit, removing the risk the U.K. could crash out without a deal. Johnson says he would rather be dead in a ditch than delay Brexit.
Parliament is trying to force his hand, passing an opposition-backed law that would compel Johnsons Conservative government to seek a three-month Brexit postponement if no divorce deal is agreed by Oct. 19.
The legislation was approved Friday by the unelected House of Lords, after gaining backing from the elected House of Commons earlier this week. It will become law within days once it gets the formality of royal assent.
But pro-EU lawmakers want to hold off on triggering an election until the Brexit delay has actually been secured, fearing Johnson will try to wriggle out of the commitment.
I do not trust the prime minister to do his duty, said Liz Saville Roberts, leader in Parliament of the Welsh party Plaid Cymru.
She said lawmakers needed to be sitting in Parliament in late October, rather than on the election campaign trail, to ensure Britain does not crash out of the EU. That makes an election before November unlikely.
We need to make sure that we get past the 31st of October, she said.
Blocking an election is a risky strategy for the opposition, which could be accused of denying the public its say.
The Conservative Party on Friday tweeted a mocked-up image of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn in a chicken suit, and Johnson said he had never known an opposition in the history of democracy thats refused to have an election.
I think obviously they dont trust the people, they dont think that the people will vote for them, so theyre refusing to have an election, he said.
Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: An early general election is now a question of when not if but Johnson mustnt be allowed to dictate the timing as a device to avoid scrutiny and force through a no deal Brexit.
