As UK-EU relations cool, battle looms to stop no-deal Brexit

posted: Aug 06, 2019 10:51 AM EDTUpdated: Aug 06, 2019 11:41 AM EDT

By JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) - In Brussels and London, one question is growing louder: Can Boris Johnson be stopped?

Britain's prime minister says the U.K. is leaving the European Union in less than 90 days, either with a divorce deal, or - it seems increasingly likely - without one. With Britain and the bloc each accusing the other of torpedoing an agreement, pro-EU British lawmakers are gearing up for a last-ditch effort to prevent a no-deal Brexit. But it's not clear whether Parliament can halt a prime minister who insists the U.K. will leave on Oct. 31 "come what may."

"In theory it can," said British constitutional expert Vernon Bogdanor told the BBC. "In practice it is very, very difficult."

By law, Britain will leave the EU on Oct. 31 when the official countdown period set by EU treaty expires. The original deadline of March 29 was extended twice as British politicians wrangled over departure terms and repeatedly rejected then-Prime Minister Theresa May's divorce deal with the bloc.

Johnson says he will "strain every sinew" to get a new and improved deal. But he has held no talks with EU leaders, and has made demands the bloc is almost certain to reject. Britain insists the EU must reopen the withdrawal agreement and remove an Irish border provision that is opposed by Brexit-backing British lawmakers. The EU says it will not renegotiate the deal.

The two sides are accusing each other of torpedoing talks. Michael Gove, the British minister in charge of no-deal preparations, said Tuesday he was "deeply saddened" that the EU was "refusing to negotiate with the U.K." But EU Commission spokeswoman Annika Breidthardt said the bloc's door was open "should the United Kingdom wish to hold talks and clarify its position in more detail."

As tensions rise, Johnson has ordered British officials to "turbo-charge" preparations for a no-deal exit, setting aside more than 2 billion pounds ($2.4 billion) to hire border officials, stockpile medicines and prepare for backlogs of trucks around the major Channel port of Dover.

Many economists say a no-deal Brexit will trigger a recession and cause economic mayhem, with shortages of fresh food and other goods likely as customs checks snarl Britain's ports.