UK Conservative party to begin Conference in Manchester ahead of Brexit deadline
Today, the UK’s Conservative Party begins its four-day conference in Manchester. The party’s approach to the upcoming October 31 Brexit deadline will be under spotlight.
After reconvening this week, parliament on Thursday voted against a recess for the party’s conference. As such, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Tories’ leader, will miss the PM’s question time in the House of Commons.
Johnson’s leadership has been under strain since the beginning of September, when a string of Conservative MPs defected. Throughout the conference, expect the Tories to focus on domestic issues of law and order, cost of living and the National Health Service to maintain their voter base.
While Johnson has vowed the UK will exit on October 31—regardless of whether a deal has been signed—his actions have not indicated a proactive approach towards actually producing an accord. Given the repeated defeats in the Commons and now in the Supreme Court, British institutions have not viewed the government as sincerely working towards solving the Brexit dilemma. While lawmakers have been working to avoid a no-deal Brexit, an extension until January 31, 2020 appears the most likely outcome.