TUESDAY 20 AUGUST 2019Why MPs want parliament to
be recalled over Brexit
Politicians want more time to prevent no-deal Brexit (UK Parliament/EPA)
ASHLEY COWBURN
With just 72 days remaining until the Brexit deadline, time is rapidly running out for MPs to stop Boris
Johnson pushing through a no-deal withdrawal from the EU on 31 October. MPs are well aware of this: just
last week they were warned there will be few opportunities for constitutional battles over a possible no-deal
Brexit in the House of Commons when they return to SW1 from their summer recess on 3 September.
It is why, over the weekend, 100 of them opposed to leaving the EU without a deal wrote to Downing
Street. They demanded the prime minister recall parliament immediately over the “national emergency”
posed by such a departure. Jeremy Corbyn then backed the call on Monday, as did the shadow chancellor
John McDonnell. “We face a national emergency,” the MPs said. “Parliament must be recalled now in
August and sit potentially until 31 October, so that the voices of the people can be heard, and that there can
be proper scrutiny of your government.”