bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

sponsorType

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Agence France-Presse

Will he, won’t he – and can he be stopped? Westminster is abuzz with talk of whether Britain’s new Prime Minister Boris Johnson will use an election to force through his Brexit plan.
Many MPs are deeply opposed to his threat to take Britain out of the European Union without a deal on October 31.
MPs might themselves try to force an election to oust Johnson and further delay Brexit after the House of Commons returns from its summer break on September 3.
However, Johnson would likely control the timing of any election – and could set the date for after Brexit.
Is a ‘no deal’ Brexit likely?
Johnson took office on July 24 promising to change the terms of a Brexit deal negotiated by his predecessor, Theresa May, or walk away.
The EU has so far refused to reopen the divorce text, causing both sides to step up preparations for a disorderly split.
Can parliament stop it?
MPs have previously voted against a “no deal” Brexit but this remains the default scenario if no divorce agreement is struck with the EU.
Parliament could in the first instance try to pass laws to force the government to delay or even reverse Brexit.
If that fails, the opposition Labour Party could call a confidence vote, which could trigger an election.
What happens in a confidence vote?
If Johnson loses a confidence vote, he would have 14 days to prove he has the support of a majority of MPs or must call an election.
However, during that time, another member of his governing Conservatives could also try to secure a majority, as could the main opposition Labour Party.
However the 14-day procedure, introduced under the 2011 Fixed Term Parliaments Act, has never been used before and there is a debate as to how it would work.
Jeremy Corbyn: Britain’s saviour or great white nope?
MPs could indicate their support for someone else through an emergency debate, a written letter or statement, according to David Howarth of the University of Cambridge.
But the tribal nature of politics in Britain would make it hard for opposition parties and rebel Tories to agree on a single candidate.
Catherine Haddon of the Institute for Government says that even if an alternative prime minister were found, Johnson would have to first resign -and he could refuse.
In this case, or if no alternative were chosen, he could stay on for the 14 days and call an election at the time of his choosing.




Election before or after Brexit?
Analysis by the House of Commons library suggests there is time for a new government to be in place before October 31 – but it is tight.
An election campaign must last a minimum of 25 working days, plus a day or two for Queen Elizabeth to formally dissolve parliament.
If forced to hold a vote, Johnson has the power to set the date of the election, and might delay.
New British PM Boris Johnson’s ruthless purge of enemies before moving into No 10 Downing St
One of his top advisers, Dominic Cummings, believes this is an option if parliament plays hardball, according to a report in The Sunday Telegraph newspaper last weekend.
“They don’t realise that if there is a no-confidence vote in September or October, we’ll call an election for after the 31st and leave anyway,” he is reported to have said.
MPs could however use the 14 days after a confidence vote to pass legislation demanding an early election – or a Brexit delay.


Who might win an election?
The 2016 EU referendum vote for Brexit has splintered traditional party allegiances across Britain, making it hard to predict the result of any election.
Johnson’s team are said to be working up a campaign pitching “people versus politicians”, promising to deliver Brexit.
Labour meanwhile is struggling with divisions over Brexit and a row over anti-Semitism in the party.
However, the party did better than expected in the 2017 election and could do again.
If the election takes place before Brexit, the Eurosceptic vote risks being split between the Conservatives and Nigel Farage’s Brexit party.
On the other side of the debate, anti-Brexit parties are also discussing an alliance that could take seats from Labour and the Tories.


From fireworks to racing, how Hong Kong is celebrating the Year of the Horse

A beginner’s guide to watching Hong Kong martial arts movies, and why realism doesn’t matter

Blooming good: where to find cherry blossoms in Hong Kong this spring

Worth the weight? What Hongkongers should know about slimming injections

Explainers

Explained: can a UK election stop  a no-deal Brexit?

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Photo: AFP

Boris Johnson took office on July 24 promising to change the terms of a Brexit deal negotiated by his predecessor, Theresa May, or walk away. Photo: EPA

Jeremy Corbyn: Britain’s saviour or great white nope?

Critics say Jeremy Corbyn is missing in action, unelectable and whose insistence on clinging on to power is threatening the very existence of the Labour Party. Photo: AP

In this image released by the House of Commons, new British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, bottom center, faces leader of the opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn in Parliament in London, Thursday, July 25, 2019. (Jessica Taylor/House of Commons via AP)

epa07482549 Posters mocking British politicians outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, central London, Britain, 03 April 2019. Reports state that British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to meet Labour opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn later in the day looking for a way to to break the Brexit deadlock. May also is to ask the EU for an extension to the Brexit deadline. EPA-EFE/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA

*** ONE TIME USE ONLY *** Jeremy Corbyn pouring pints at Glastonbury 2017

A supporter of the U.K's opposition Labour Party poses for a photograph ahead of the annual Labour Conference in Liverpool, U.K., on Sunday, Sep. 23, 2018. Labour Party leader Jeremy  Corbyn said he wants a general election rather than a second Brexit referendum but will be "bound" by the decision of his membership when it votes Tuesday on the issue. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg

Critics say Jeremy Corbyn is missing in action, unelectable and whose insistence on clinging on to power is threatening the very existence of the Labour Party. Photo: EPA

New British PM Boris Johnson’s ruthless purge of enemies before moving into No 10 Downing St

UK PM Boris Johnson waves outside 10 Downing Street in London. Photo: AFP

Larry, the Downing Street cat, sits outside the front door of 10 Downing Street in London on July 10, 2019. (Photo by Tolga Akmen / AFP)

epa07737748 Britain's Queen Elizabeth II welcomes newly elected leader of the Conservative party Boris Johnson during an audience in Buckingham Palace, London, Britain, 24 July 2019 where she invited him to become Prime Minister and form a new government. Former London mayor and foreign secretary Boris Johnson is taking over the post after his election as party leader was announced the previous day. Theresa May stepped down as British Prime Minister following her resignation as Conservative Party leader on 07 June. EPA-EFE/VICTORIA JONES / POOL

epa07737559 Carrie Symonds (C), girlfriend of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and staff wait for his arrival at Downing Street following his appointment by the Queen in London, Britain, 24 July 2019. Former London mayor and foreign secretary Boris Johnson is taking over the post after his election as party leader was announced the previous day. Theresa May stepped down as British Prime Minister following her resignation as Conservative Party leader on 07 June. EPA-EFE/VICKIE FLORES

epa07737843 Prime Minister Boris Johnson is clapped into 10 Downing Street central London, Britain, 24 July 2019 by staff after seeing Queen Elizabeth II and accepting her invitation to become Prime Minister and form a new government. Former London mayor and foreign secretary Boris Johnson is taking over the post after his election as party leader was announced the previous day. Theresa May stepped down as British Prime Minister following her resignation as Conservative Party leader on 07 June. EPA-EFE/Stefan Rousseau / POOL

epa07738443 Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid leaves as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson begins his new term at Downing Street in London, Britain, 24 July 2019. Theresa May stepped down as British Prime Minister following her resignation as Conservative Party leader on 07 June. Former London mayor and foreign secretary Boris Johnson is taking over the post after he was election as Tories party leader was announced the previous day. EPA-EFE/Hollie Adams

A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) shows Dominic Cummings, head of the Vote Leave campaign during the EU referendum, giving evidence to a session of the Treasury Committee at the Houses of Parliament in London on April 20, 2016 - Incoming British prime minister Boris Johnson will bring in Dominic Cummings, the controversial head of the 2016 Brexit campaign, as a senior adviser, a source close to Johnson said on July 24, 2019. (Photo by HO / PRU / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / PRU " - NO USE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, SATIRICAL, MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

Britain’s PM Boris Johnson holds his first Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street in London. Photo: AFP

News

World

Europe


There is speculation that Britain’s new Prime Minister Boris Johnson could call an early election to strengthen his mandate for a no-deal Brexit



There is speculation that Britain’s new Prime Minister Boris Johnson could call an early election to strengthen his mandate for a no-deal Brexit.


Explained: can a UK election stop a no-deal Brexit?

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} There is speculation that Britain’s new Prime Minister Boris Johnson could call an early election to strengthen his mandate for a no-deal Brexit

Is a ‘no deal’ Brexit likely?

There is speculation that Britain’s new Prime Minister Boris Johnson could call an early election to strengthen his mandate for a no-deal Brexit