New Brexit blow for Boris Johnson as brother Jo resigns

Our live coverage is over for the day. Read our full report on Thursday’s Brexit drama here.

Johnson spent a significant part of his speech talking about the fact that he doesn’t want to hold an early election and then criticizing the leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn for refusing to allow him to call one.

Confused? So are we.

“I don’t want an election at all, I don’t want an election … but it’s the only way to get this thing moving,” he said.

Watch it for yourself:

The first three questions to Boris Johnson after his campaign-style speech in northern England were all variations on asking why the country should trust him when his own brother – who resigned earlier in the day as a government minister – did not.?

Boris Johnson gives a speech to police officers during a visit in West Yorkshire on Thursday.

“People have different opinions, but the way to unite this country is to get this thing done,” Johnson said, referring to Brexit. “And that’s want we are going to do.”

A reminder: Boris Johnson’s brother Jo Johnson resigned earlier Thursday, saying he was “torn between family loyalty and the national interest.”

Boris Johnson says he would “rather be dead in a ditch” than ask the European Union for another Brexit extension. But he also refuses to say he would resign if he was prompted by a law to ask Brussels for more time.

Here is how the exchange went on:

Errrr…. One of the police recruits standing behind Johnson just appeared to have fainted.

A journalist pointed this out to Johnson, who turned around and asked if she was alright. But he did nothing else to help her. She then sat down, and he joked, perhaps it’s time to wrap things up.

By the time Johnson finished, several minutes later, the police recruit was back on her feet.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott criticized the PM on Twitter. She wrote: “Johnson kept these trainees waiting on their feet, and unsurprisingly, one of them appears to have felt faint.

“He saw that happen, and he ignored it. Tells you everything you need to know about this man - and how much he really cares about the police service.”

The press are ruthless, asking the Prime Minister over and over again about his brother Jo Johnson’s decisiton to quit politics.

When Johnson fails to answer, the next journalist asks again.

And then the next one.

Finally, the Prime Minister addressed the issue, saying he and brother Jo don’t agree about the European Union “because it’s an issue that obviously divides families and divides everybody.”

Boris Johnson tried to explain to the new police recruits what a “police caution” means.

It went badly. Johnson rambled about the topic for about a minute, then abandoned it.

Police officers must say the caution when arresting someone.

The episode was especially embarrassing given the fact that just before Johnson became Prime Minister, he had his own encounter with the police.

Why the long face? Johnson meets police officers before his speech in Wakefield.

Police were called to an alleged altercation at the apartment he shared with his girlfriend. The Metropolitan Police issued a statement confirming that a “caller was concerned for the welfare of a female neighbour.”

The police arrived and “spoke to all occupants of the address, who were all safe and well.”

Johnson ducked repeated questions during the leadership campaign about the incident.

The Prime Minister has used the first part of his speech to talk about new investment into policing that his government promised on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson with Home Secretary Priti Patel speak to police officers in Wakefield.

But he quickly switched to the big topic of the day – his call for an early election and quick Brexit:

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, giving a speech in front of a row of new police recruits.

The US Vice President Mike Pence toured 10 Downing Street on Thursday. After his visit, he weighed in on the current Brexit crisis, asking the European Union to “negotiate in good faith with Prime Minister Boris Johnson.”

Pence appeared to be taking the same side as his boss President Donald Trump – supporting the UK in its quest to break free from the EU.

Trump holds famously unfavorable views about the EU, calling the bloc a “foe of the United States.”

If there is an early election – something Boris Johnson is pushing for – the big question will be whether opposition parties can unite. Johnson seems confident he can secure a majority in a vote.

But economists at London-based Berenberg Bank said the election calculus could change radically if Liberal Democrats, Labour, the SNP, pro-EU independents and the Green Party were to field joint candidates instead of competing against each other in pro-EU seats.

However, they are skeptical whether such coalition could work:

The big question is whether pro-EU parties could unite.

Working together to win and to govern jointly afterwards until after a new Brexit referendum would be quite difficult, though,” they said in a note to clients. “The pro-markets LibDems would be reluctant to join forces with far-left Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Agreeing on a referendum question would also be a challenge. Would a hard Brexit be offered as an option? If not, many voters would cry foul.”

The UK skipped a scheduled EU meeting on Thursday, a first no show since the government announced a few weeks ago it would stop attending most European meetings from September 1, an EU diplomat told CNN.?

The government said it wanted its diplomats to “focus on our future relationship with the EU and other partners around the world” instead of attending EU meetings.

It said?the UK will only attend EU meetings where the UK has a significant national interest in the outcome of discussions, such as on security.

A High Court case to stop Boris Johnson from suspending Parliament for five weeks has been adjourned until Friday at 10 a.m.

The case was launched by high-profile anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller, who successfully sued the government back in 2016.

Miller says that suspending – or proroguing – Parliament sets a horrifying precedent, and that Johnson’s government is “subverting democracy” in a way that is unprecedented.

John Major has joined Miller’s legal action, which means Britain is being treated to the extraordinary spectacle of a former Conservative prime minister suing his successor.?

When Boris Johnson heads to the north of the country later, it’ll be to kick off an election campaign that has been plagued by party purges and resignations (including his brother), and, well, no actual election.

While the Prime Minister has repeatedly said he doesn’t want a general election, he nonetheless believes it is the only way to secure a majority and stave off further delays to the October 31 deadline for exiting the EU.

The government said it will call for an early election again on Monday.

An Anti-Brexit demonstartion outside Parliament earlier this week.

Meanwhile, opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he would support an election after legislation preventing a no-deal Brexit is enacted.?

That said, the Labour party is still divided over when this would be – either when the no-deal bill becomes law, or when no deal is finally off the table in practice, at the end of October.

Meanwhile, British newspapers are currently engaged in their own battle to squeeze as many puns as possible into their Brexit headlines.

Here’s London newspaper the Evening Standard’s effort. Its editor, George Osborne, is a former Conservative finance minister who was sacked by then-Prime Minister Theresa May in 2016, following the EU referendum.

This week Boris Johnson – and supporters including finance minister Sajid Javid – have repeatedly called legislation to delay Brexit a “surrender bill.”

On Thursday, Brexit coordinator for the European Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt, called out the language of “Europe’s dark past.”

Did we mention it was a busy day for Boris Johnson? Earlier the British Prime Minister met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also at Number 10.

Netanyahu tweeted that he wanted to work with the UK to counter “Iran’s aggression and terrorism.”

It’s still not clear what day next week Parliament will be suspended, but it could be as late as Thursday, according to Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Leader of the House of Commons.

He told Parliament it would be suspended on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday next week.

Rees-Mogg said Royal Assent – meaning the Queen formally agrees to make the bill a law – “will be given speedily,” after it’s been approved in the House of Lords.”

A quick reminder of where the bill preventing a no-deal Brexit is at now:

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson greets US Vice President Mike Pence on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street on Thursday. Source:(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

It’s a jam-packed day for Boris Johnson who is currently meeting US Vice President Mike Pence at 10 Downing Street.

Pence thanked Johnson “for such a warm welcome – and a busy time here in the UK,” to which Johnson said, “Always busy.”?

The Vice President told Johnson he spoke to US President Donald Trump this morning, who asked him to “send his very best greetings and assure you the United States supports the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, but wanted me to convey that the US is ready, willing, and able to immediately negotiate a free trade agreement.”

Pence added that the US is “anxious” to sign a trade deal and strengthen the US-UK relationship, touting Trump’s “warm and personal relationship” with Johnson.?

Johnson called the trade agreement a “massive opportunity,” noting that Americans don’t eat any British lamb, beef or haggis – and that the UK would like to introduce other products to US markets.

He described the US as “tough negotiators,” but added that Britain’s National Health Service is not on the table for a deal.

He made a joke about UK media being “not too keen on chlorinated chicken,” which alludes to claims the UK would have to lower its food safety standards to get a trade deal with the US.

Johnson was no doubt also referring to tabloid newspaper The Sun’s front page, which depicted Corbyn as a chicken who “clucks up Brexit.”

British politicians have spent weeks bickering over whether a no-deal Brexit should be “off the table.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson argued that leaving the option open would strengthen his hand in the EU negotiations. According to that logic, European leaders would be more willing to compromise if they could see the risk of economic damage stemming from a chaotic Brexit was real.

But the opposition, along with 21 rebel Conservatives, was unwilling to risk the prosperity of their voters and pushed through a bill that says the Prime Minister must ask for an extension unless a deal is reached.?

The bill is set to become a law soon, but that’s not the end of it. As things stand the UK is due to leave the EU without a deal on October 31.?

The EU must decide whether to grant the UK another Brexit extension.

To truly remove that risk, the UK will now have to convince the rest of the European Union to give it more time. The EU has already granted the UK two Brexit extensions, and has not yet indicated whether a third one is possible.?

Speaking on Thursday, Mina Andreeva, the chief Spokesperson for the European Commission said any extension would have to be for a good reason:

But even if the EU agrees to the extension, the risk of no deal doesn’t go away entirely.?

Johnson has called for an early election, hoping to secure a larger majority that would overrule the current Parliament.?

It is also unclear what would happen after the proposed extension expires.

While there is no majority in the UK Parliament for the original withdrawal deal, negotiated by Johnson’s predecessor Theresa May, a suitable alternative hasn’t been found either.

If that doesn’t happen, the UK will likely be back at square one after the extension ends.

Parliament will debate and vote on an early election again on Monday, the?Leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, said on Thursday.

The government’s first attempt to call a snap election was heavily defeated on Wednesday.

Jacob Rees-Mogg arrives at Downing Street earlier this week.

The motion on an early election is the last point of business on Monday’s agenda, according to an itinerary tweeted by the Leader’s Office:

A bill blocking a no-deal exit from the European Union looks set to pass before Parliament is suspended next week.

Nonetheless, the government is still preparing for a no-deal, according to Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office releases a short statement on his brother’s resignation:

Jo Johnson will stand down as an MP at the next election.

Boris Johnson's father Stanley, sister Rachel and brother Jo react after his election as the new Conservative Party leader in July.

Many on Twitter were quick to point out that Jo Johnson must be one of the few politicians quitting in order to spend less time with his family.

Broadcaster Robert Peston pointed out the chasm between the political views of Remainer Jo and Brexiteer Boris:

Meanwhile, director of think tank Chatham House, Robin Niblett, called it a “logical” move:

Leader of the Brexit Party, Nigel Farage, pointed out that the Conservative Party – which is set to purge dozens of rebel MPs – is starting to look very different:

Boris Johnson’s brother, Jo, is resigning from the government, and will stand down as a Member of Parliament after almost a decade.

The Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation tweeted that he’d been “torn between family loyalty and the national interest.”

It’s not the first time Jo Johnson has resigned over Brexit.

In November last year he also quit – although that time it was over then-Prime Minister Theresa May’s beleaguered EU withdrawal plan.

Unlike his elder brother, Jo Johnson is a firm Remainer who has previously called for a second referendum. It’s a world away from the views of the Prime Minister – who has vowed to exit the EU “do or die” on October 31.

Jo Johnson, left, congratulates his brother Boris at the launch of his Conservative Party leadership campaign in June.

High-profile anti-Brexit campaigner, Gina Miller.

Outside Westminster, legal action is underway to stop Boris Johnson from suspending Parliament for five-weeks.

The High Court is now hearing a case launched by high-profile anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller, who successfully sued the government back in 2016.

Miller says that suspending – or “proroguing” – Parliament sets a horrifying precedent, and that Johnson’s government is “subverting democracy” in a way that is unprecedented.

John Major has joined Miller’s legal action, which means Britain will be treated to the extraordinary spectacle of a former Conservative prime minister suing his successor.?

Among the big fears surrounding a no-deal Brexit, is that the UK will face food, fuel and medicine shortages.

Not so, says Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay, who announced Thursday that the government will launch an express freight service, if a no-deal Brexit happens.

Need a reminder on what exactly no-deal involves? CNN’s Rob Picheta has you covered:

TOPSHOT - An anti-Brexit activist waves a Union and a European Union flag as they demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in central London on January 23, 2019. - Britain's main opposition Labour party has proposed MPs be allowed to vote on a second referendum as part of a series of options to stop a "no deal" Brexit. (Photo by Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) (Photo credit should read DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images)

Related article What is a no-deal Brexit and what would it mean for Britain?

Meanwhile in Brussels, EU diplomats watched the showdown in Westminster with utter dismay.

Johnson has declared himself determined not to take the option of a no-deal Brexit off the table, arguing that the threat of a chaotic departure makes his negotiating position stronger.

Opposition lawmakers meanwhile, believe his claim to be negotiating with the EU is a sham.

The EU diplomat said it was pointless talking to Johnson because he currently cannot deliver a deal.

Robots work on the MINI production line at the BMW group plant in Cowley, near Oxford.

Business leaders in the UK have given a cautious welcome to moves to prevent a no-deal Brexit – but warned about the ongoing impact of uncertainty on the economy.

The comments come as Make UK, the group representing British manufacturers, warned that the industry was in a nosedive – hit by Brexit uncertainty, trade wars and a global slowdown.

Make UK also warned that British manufacturing firms were less prepared for a no-deal Brexit than they were in March, when the country had originally been set to leave the EU.

Some analysis here from CNN’s Eliza Mackintosh on how the UK Parliament – one of the oldest legislatures in the world – is now at the center of the mother of all battles:

Read more here

Boris Johnson, center right, pictured during his first Prime Minister's Questions, in the House of Commons in London on Wednesday,

It’s been a momentous week in the Brexit saga (and it’s only Thursday), so let’s get up to speed.

Shortly before 1.30 a.m. local time on Thursday, the government abandoned attempts in the House of Lords to block a bill preventing a no-deal Brexit on October 31.

The bill will now complete its passage through the House of Lords by 5 p.m. on Friday, before Parliament is set to be suspended as early as Tuesday next week.

The bill will then return to the House of Commons on Monday and should receive royal assent the same day – marking the last hurdle before it comes into law.

All of this means it’ll then be up to Prime Minister Boris Johnson to return to Brussels and seek an extension, if a Brexit deal has not been agreed.

The result is a huge blow for Johnson. The Prime Minister, while publicly claiming he doesn’t favor an election, had hoped a new vote would break the deadlock over Brexit by returning him to power with an increased majority.?