By law, Mr. Johnson had to request a delay in a letter, which the E.U. has not responded to yet, but he also sent a separate letter to the European Council president saying the approval of a delay would damage the relationship between Britain and the bloc. One Labour lawmaker even delayed giving birth to appear in a wheelchair for a pivotal vote. She did not trust her pro-Brexit colleagues to handle the process for medical absences correctly. Quotable: “Before I decide whether to jump on the prime minister’s bus,” Philip Hammond, a Conservative ex-chancellor, said, “I’d like to be just a little clearer about the destination.”

Source: New York Times October 21, 2019 03:56 UTC