A Scottish court has rejected a bid by campaigners seeking an order to force British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to ask for a Brexit delay if he has not struck a deal with the European Union in less than two weeks’ time.
The court on Monday concluded there was no need to take any pre-emptive action against Johnson because he had given legal assurances that he would abide by a law compelling him to ask the EU for an extension if no divorce deal had been agreed.
Last month, the United Kingdom’s Parliament passed legislation, known as the “Benn Act”, which requires Johnson to send a letter to the EU asking for a delay if he fails to agree a deal by October 19 unless he has legislators’ approval to leave without any agreement.
With the clock ticking down to Britain’s departure on October 31, Johnson has consistently said he will not ask for a Brexit delay and that he would rather be “dead in a ditch” than seek any further extension.
But he has also said he will not break a law that forces him to request one if no withdrawal agreement deal has been agreed without explaining that apparent contradiction.
