U.K. Labour Party to seek Brexit extension in Parliament
September 2, 2019, 11:03 am

U.K. Labour Party to seek Brexit extension in Parliament

The U.K. Labour Party’s chief Brexit adviser says opposition plans to block a “no-deal” Brexit would require postponing the country’s departure deadline again so the withdrawal doesn’t happen on Oct. 31 as now scheduled.

Labour’s Keir Starmer told the BBC on Sunday that the legislation to be introduced in Parliament as early as Tuesday will focus on an extension of the deadline to prevent Prime Minister Boris Johnson from leaving the European Union without a deal.

“The length of the extension is secondary, frankly. We have simply got to stop us leaving without a deal,” he said.

Current plans call for Britain to leave the EU by Oct. 31 unless Britain formally asks for its third extension and each of the bloc’s other 27 nations agree. Brexit first was set for March 29.

A senior Cabinet minister overseeing preparations for leaving with no EU withdrawal agreement declined to say if Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government would abide by Parliament’s decision.

“Let’s see what the legislation says,” Michael Gove, a staunch Brexit advocate, said.

Gove’s refusal to commit to following Parliament’s sets up a possible constitutional clash over Britain’s plan to leave the European Union to make good on the results of a 2016 referendum.

Johnson has vowed to take Britain out of the EU on that day even if there is no deal in place, despite economists warning his determination could have severe costs.

The battleground shifts to Parliament when it returns from a lengthy summer recess Tuesday. It was not clear how many members of Johnson’s Conservative Party might break with the prime minister over a possible “no-deal” Brexit.

Johnson has made plans to shut Parliament for part of the period before the Oct. 31 Brexit deadline. The move would shorten the time his opponents have to try to take control of the Brexit process.

Johnson and his top advisers are planning to meet with recalcitrant legislators from his own Conservative Party to try to keep them from supporting the opposition’s efforts to prevent “no-deal.”

EU officials have said they are ready for a “no-deal” scenario if necessary.

Germany’s foreign minister said in a newspaper interview published Sunday that an orderly withdrawal remains the best option for both sides.

But Heiko Maas told the Funke newspaper that “in case a hard Brexit turns out to be unavoidable, Germany is prepared for this scenario.”

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”