UK MPs agree on need for legislation to halt no-deal Brexit

Opposition MPs met on Tuesday seeking a consensus on how to stop the no-deal Brexit threatened by prime minister Boris Johnson.

With parliament set to resume on Tuesday after the summer recess pro- European Union MPs said they were in favour of passing legislation to delay Britain's departure on October 31.

The hardline Brexiteer Johnson has pledged to leave the EU with or without an agreement.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn hosted talks with the Scottish National party’s Ian Blackford, Jo Swinson of the Liberal Democrats, the Green party’s Caroline Lucas and the Independent Group for Change’s Anna Soubry.

“The battle to stop no-deal Brexit isn’t a struggle between those who want to leave the EU and those who want continued membership,” Corbyn wrote in the Independent newspaper on Tuesday.

“It’s a battle of the many against the few who are hijacking the referendum result to shift even more power and wealth towards those at the top. That’s why the Labour Party will do everything necessary to stop a no-deal bankers’ Brexit.”

Corbyn also wrote to 116 Conservative MPs who had previously voted against a no-deal Brexit, calling on them to support cross-party efforts.

“We know there is a majority in parliament against no deal. As MPs we’ve voted against no deal on a number of occasions and we did so in the largest number on 27 March of this year,” Corbyn wrote.

“This is an urgent task. The Prime Minister is reportedly planning to suspend parliament to force through a No Deal crash out. This action would be, according to legal advice I’ve received...'the gravest abuse of power and attack upon UK constitutional principle in living memory'.”

“My view is that holding a general election after an extension is achieved is the simplest and most democratic way to prevent No Deal and to let the people of this country decide our future. Indeed, it is the best route to a referendum or leaving the EU with a deal.”