Our Head of Constitutional Affairs gives his analysis of the
political and legal tools which may be used by Parliament to
prevent a no-deal Brexit in the event that the new prime minster
Boris Johnson is unable to renegotiate a deal that would be
acceptable to the House of Commons and decides to leave the EU
without a deal on 31 October 2019.
Can Parliament prevent a no-deal Brexit?
During his campaign to become leader of the Conservative Party,
the UK's new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, categorically
stated that if he could not renegotiate a deal that would be
acceptable to the House of Commons he would leave the EU without a
deal on 31 October - 'do or die, come what may'.
Of course it remains to be seen whether that pledge, made in the
heat of campaigning, will actually be carried through now that he
is in office. The risk that it might be has led MPs to consider whether there
is anything that Parliament can do to prevent a no-deal Brexit from
taking place.
