LONDON: Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May is acting like Tudor King Henry VIII in refusing to commit to giving Parliament a vote on the deal to leave the EU, opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said.
May told lawmakers earlier this month Parliament would have “ample opportunity” to discuss her plans for Brexit but she stopped short of promising lawmakers a vote on any final agreement.
Corbyn told the Guardian newspaper on Thursday that any deal thrashed out between the British government and the 27 remaining countries in the EU had to be endorsed by Parliament.
“It would have to come to Parliament. She cannot hide behind Henry VIII and the divine rights of the power of kings on this one,” he said.
“The idea that on something as major as this the prime minister would use the royal prerogative to bypass Parliament is extraordinary — I don’t know where she’s coming from.”
Henry VIII, who ruled from 1509 to 1547, is best known for his six wives and making himself head of the Church of England after breaking with Rome.
The British government is able in theory to take executive decisions without the assent of Parliament using the “royal prerogative,” a concept originating in the personal power of the monarch to rule on his or her own initiative.
However, under Britain’s unwritten constitution, the scope of the prerogative is difficult to define and its use in specific cases has been decided by the courts.
May’s government is fighting a challenge to its decision to use prerogative powers to trigger Britain’s exit from the EU.
The Supreme Court said earlier this month it would decide as quickly as possible whether May can lawfully invoke Article 50 without Parliament’s assent, the first step in the process of leaving.
EU voters in France, Germany, Italy and Greece think their countries are heading in the wrong direction but there is not yet any Europe-wide inclination to follow Britain toward exiting the bloc, according to a poll published on Thursday.
Britain’s shock June 23 Brexit vote, which was praised at the time by then-US presidential candidate Donald Trump as a “miracle,” has raised questions about the future of post-World War II attempts at European integration.
After Brexit and Trump’s victory in the United States, investors are watching for any sign that popular discontent is on the rise ahead of 2017 elections in France and Germany, and a likely vote in Italy.
A WIN/Gallup International online survey of 14,969 people showed voters were unhappy across the European Union but that support for the EU remained above 60 percent in most of the biggest member states.
The poll showed 89 percent of voters in Greece thought their country was heading in the wrong direction. In France the figure was 82 percent, Italy 79 percent and Germany 62 percent.
While EU voters are clearly discontented, there was only a small rise in the number of people who would vote for an exit: 36 percent from 33 percent across the 15 European countries including Britain that were surveyed.
The percentage of people in Germany, France and Belgium who would vote to leave fell from a year ago. Finland and Greece saw an increase in support for leaving, up to 40 percent from 29 percent and to 46 percent from 38 percent respectfully.
“2016 saw the EU foundations severely shaken,” said Johnny Heald, managing director of ORB International, who did the UK polling.
“What stands out is the overwhelming view from EU citizens that their countries are heading in the wrong direction — most noticeable in France and Greece — which makes fertile ground for right-wing populist parties.”
Across Europe, 60 percent said they would like to have fewer migrants and refugees. In Greece, 86 percent wanted fewer while in Italy the figure was 75 percent and in Germany 64 percent.
The survey was carried out Nov. 25 to Dec. 7, before the Dec. 19 truck attack on a crowded Christmas market in Berlin.
The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which was created three years ago in opposition to euro zone bailouts, laid the blame on German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
May told lawmakers earlier this month Parliament would have “ample opportunity” to discuss her plans for Brexit but she stopped short of promising lawmakers a vote on any final agreement.
Corbyn told the Guardian newspaper on Thursday that any deal thrashed out between the British government and the 27 remaining countries in the EU had to be endorsed by Parliament.
“It would have to come to Parliament. She cannot hide behind Henry VIII and the divine rights of the power of kings on this one,” he said.
“The idea that on something as major as this the prime minister would use the royal prerogative to bypass Parliament is extraordinary — I don’t know where she’s coming from.”
Henry VIII, who ruled from 1509 to 1547, is best known for his six wives and making himself head of the Church of England after breaking with Rome.
The British government is able in theory to take executive decisions without the assent of Parliament using the “royal prerogative,” a concept originating in the personal power of the monarch to rule on his or her own initiative.
However, under Britain’s unwritten constitution, the scope of the prerogative is difficult to define and its use in specific cases has been decided by the courts.
May’s government is fighting a challenge to its decision to use prerogative powers to trigger Britain’s exit from the EU.
The Supreme Court said earlier this month it would decide as quickly as possible whether May can lawfully invoke Article 50 without Parliament’s assent, the first step in the process of leaving.
EU voters in France, Germany, Italy and Greece think their countries are heading in the wrong direction but there is not yet any Europe-wide inclination to follow Britain toward exiting the bloc, according to a poll published on Thursday.
Britain’s shock June 23 Brexit vote, which was praised at the time by then-US presidential candidate Donald Trump as a “miracle,” has raised questions about the future of post-World War II attempts at European integration.
After Brexit and Trump’s victory in the United States, investors are watching for any sign that popular discontent is on the rise ahead of 2017 elections in France and Germany, and a likely vote in Italy.
A WIN/Gallup International online survey of 14,969 people showed voters were unhappy across the European Union but that support for the EU remained above 60 percent in most of the biggest member states.
The poll showed 89 percent of voters in Greece thought their country was heading in the wrong direction. In France the figure was 82 percent, Italy 79 percent and Germany 62 percent.
While EU voters are clearly discontented, there was only a small rise in the number of people who would vote for an exit: 36 percent from 33 percent across the 15 European countries including Britain that were surveyed.
The percentage of people in Germany, France and Belgium who would vote to leave fell from a year ago. Finland and Greece saw an increase in support for leaving, up to 40 percent from 29 percent and to 46 percent from 38 percent respectfully.
“2016 saw the EU foundations severely shaken,” said Johnny Heald, managing director of ORB International, who did the UK polling.
“What stands out is the overwhelming view from EU citizens that their countries are heading in the wrong direction — most noticeable in France and Greece — which makes fertile ground for right-wing populist parties.”
Across Europe, 60 percent said they would like to have fewer migrants and refugees. In Greece, 86 percent wanted fewer while in Italy the figure was 75 percent and in Germany 64 percent.
The survey was carried out Nov. 25 to Dec. 7, before the Dec. 19 truck attack on a crowded Christmas market in Berlin.
The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which was created three years ago in opposition to euro zone bailouts, laid the blame on German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
