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The opening of the British parliament's next session on October 14 is likely to prove as eventful as the closure of the last one in the early hours of Tuesday, when angry opposition lawmakers staged a rare protest inside the Commons, the elected main house.
Even Commons speaker John Bercow – charged with political neutrality – complained, while performing his ceremonial duties to shut down parliament, that Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson had used an “executive fiat”, or edict, to order the longest shutdown of parliament for decades, at a crucial time in British politics.
Despite the setback of losing a string of votes in the past week on his call for a snap election and an opposition bid to stop him from engineering a no-deal Brexit, Johnson appears to be sticking to his guns.
He insists that Britain must leave the European Union, with or without a deal, on October 31.

What are the chances of a no-deal Brexit on October 31?
Still quite high, despite lawmakers' attempts to prevent one, and despite Johnson's claims that he is getting closer to a deal with Brussels. The parliament might have passed a law blocking no deal, but Johnson and his supporters appear confident that they can get around it.
Is he serious about trying to reach a deal?
He says that he is totally committed to reaching a deal but insists he would rather be “dead in a ditch” than seek another extension, as a new law orders him to do unless he can persuade the British parliament to back a deal or no deal – by October 19.
Boris Johnson ‘could be jailed’ for refusing to seek Brexit delay
But opponents, including pro-EU lawmakers in his own Conservative party, claim he is only paying lip service to the negotiations.
What kind of deal is possible, if any?
Speculation is mounting that Johnson could ask Brussels to resurrect an agreement based on a “Northern Ireland-only backstop” that would apply temporary customs and other arrangements to the territory to ensure the continuation of an open Irish border after Brexit.

But Arlene Foster, the leader of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), who was expected to meet Johnson in London on Tuesday, dismissed that possibility as “anti-democratic [and] unconstitutional”.
If Johnson did sacrifice the DUP, he would face a backlash from pro-Brexit Conservatives and from Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, who has offered an election pact with Johnson if he ensures a “clean break” with the EU.
What happens if Johnson defies the new law designed to block a no-deal Brexit?
Johnson has suggested that he is prepared to ignore what he dubbed a “surrender law”, as Conservative Brexiteers want him to do. He seems certain to be challenged in parliament and in British courts, but those processes can only begin after October 19, just 12 days before the scheduled Brexit date.
‘No-deal’ Brexit bill passes UK upper house in blow for Johnson
Many observers believe his controversial chief strategist Dominic Cummings has already developed legal arguments that could still allow Johnson to pursue a no-deal Brexit lawfully.
Without an election date, will Johnson continue his nationwide campaign for public support?
Yes. Despite failing to get parliamentary backing for a snap election for a second time on Monday, Johnson planned to continue his electioneering with a speech on education on Tuesday and more events this week.
Johnson, who leads an increasingly small Conservative minority government, appears to believe he can secure a majority in parliament by calling a snap election to be fought on the twin issues of “the people versus parliament” and Brexit versus no Brexit.

He has taunted a relatively weak opposition Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, for refusing to agree to an election in mid-October, calling him everything from “chlorinated chicken” to a “big girl's blouse”.
Divisions inside Corbyn's party are at least as great as those in the Conservatives. But Johnson's predecessor, Theresa May, made the fatal error of underestimating support for Corbyn when she lost her majority after calling a snap election in 2017.
Johnson is likely to get his wish of an election within the next three months, but a later vote increases the pressure on him to ensure a no-deal Brexit on October 31 or face the loss of Brexiteers' votes to Farage's party.


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Controversial move leaves prime minister five weeks to hone plan for Britain to leave EU by October 31



Controversial move leaves prime minister five weeks to hone plan for Britain to leave EU by October 31.


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What is Boris Johnson’s Brexit strategy after shutting down parliament?

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Controversial move leaves prime minister five weeks to hone plan for Britain to leave EU by October 31

Controversial move leaves prime minister five weeks to hone plan for Britain to leave EU by October 31