The United Kingdom was still reeling hours after its Supreme Court ruled unanimously — and historically – Prime Minister Boris Johnson's suspension of parliament earlier this month was "unlawful."
"Resign!" was the immediate cry from opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. His call for Johnson to go was echoed by several Conservatives who believed Johnson suspended parliament to diminish opposition to a no-deal Brexit when the exit date from the European Union (EU) arrives Oct. 31.
Rory Stewart, a Member of Parliament who ran against Johnson for the Conservative leadership this year and a "Remainer" (opposes Brexit and wants ties to the EU), said the prime minister was going into "Trumpian territory" and was a "dangerous man."
A Johnson resignation is almost certainly out of the question. According to a YouGov poll completed Tuesday, 39% of British voters want Johnson to resign and 43% do not want him to.
Something more likely to occur is Johnson accepting an extension of the deadline from the EU — a possibility that was enhanced by the decisive ruling against him.
This, supporters of the extension say, would give London more time to work out a Brexit plan that includes protection for the borders of Ireland and avoidance of other possible foibles erupting from a Brexit with "no deal."
This is what parliament voted for, Rory Stewart insisted, in rejecting a no-deal Brexit.
"If parliament doesn't want a 'no deal' Brexit, you can't have a no-deal Brexit," he said.
A general election is now likely to be held sooner rather than later, British sources agree. The most-oft date for an election to choose all 650 Members of the House of Commons is in November.
Under British election law, a simple majority of Commons are needed to vote "no confidence" and thus dissolve the government and call an election.
Johnson — who clearly wants an election — failed to come up with that number in recent votes. This was largely due to the refusal of Corbyn and the Labor Party to vote "no confidence" — almost certainly because polls showed Labour trailing Conservatives by as much 10 percentage points.
Tuesday's ruling is almost sure to make Corbyn more eager to fight an election, and his party more likely to back the necessary "no confidence" vote.
According to the average of all polls completed a week ago, 33% of likely voters preferred Conservatives, 24% Labour, 21% the Liberal-Democratic Party, and 12% the new Brexit Party.
"Is Parliament really going to back a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister?" Alexandra Phillips, Brexit Party Member of the European Parliament, told Newsmax. "That would trigger a general election. Labour doesn't want that as they are trailing the Conservatives in the polls.
"Don't forget that 60% of Labour's constituencies voted to leave the EU [in the 2016 Brexit referendum], just as some of its leadership want Labour to become the party of 'Remain.'"
According to Phillips, "It is not in the interest of self-serving MPs to face the electoral music now. In fact, they have become like those annoying passengers on long car journeys who simply want to be the driver, as they try to steer government business in parliament. What we should have is a Leave alliance between the Conservative Party and the Brexit Party to ensure that the democratic decision of the 17.4 million [who voted for Brexit in '16] is honored."
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
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