British opposition parties discuss PM Johnson's Brexit election gamble

[LONDON] British opposition parties will discuss on Friday how to respond to Boris Johnson's bid to call a snap election after the prime minister said he would rather die in a ditch than delay the planned Oct 31 departure from the European Union.

As the United Kingdom spins towards an election, Brexit remains up in the air more than three years after Britons voted to leave the bloc in a 2016 referendum. Options range from a turbulent 'no-deal' exit to abandoning the whole endeavour.

British lawmakers will on Monday hold another vote on a motion on whether to hold an early election, the leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg said.

But opposition parties, including the Labour Party, want to ensure that an election does not allow Mr Johnson to lead the United Kingdom out of the EU without a deal on Oct 31.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn will hold a conference call with other opposition parties on Friday, a Labour spokesman said. Mr Johnson on Thursday said he would rather be "dead in a ditch" than delay Brexit.

Former Prime Minister John Major said Mr Johnson should fire Dominic Cummings, the advisor behind his high-stakes Brexit strategy.

When asked about Mr Major's call, Mr Cummings told Reuters: "Really? Trust the people" 

REUTERS