United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson has attacked Jeremy Corbyn and the British Labour Party, describing them as being "consumed by cowardice" after blocking a general election.
On Thursday morning (NZ Time), a motion from the Government calling for a general election on October 15 was defeated after it failed to get a two-thirds majority in the British House of Commons.
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Several rebel Conservative Party MPs, the Liberal Democrats and others opposed the motion.
The bulk of the Labour Party abstained from the vote, with Corbyn, the party's leader, saying he believed in having an election, but not until legislation passed on Thursday blocking a no-deal Brexit had been given the Royal Assent.
Johnson has now hit out, saying Corbyn's position was hypocritical and questioning if a "chicken suit" should be brought out for the Labour leader.
"Not only does he want to cancel the referendum, not only does he want to extend the UK's membership of the EU at the behest of the EU... but also he now refuses, contrary to what I think is the constitutional duty of a leader of an opposition, he refuses to take part in a general election," Johnson told ITV's Robert Peston following the dramatic showdown on Thursday.
"I have never known a time in modern history when the leader of the Opposition has refused to participate in an election. I can only invite our viewers to speculate as to why he may be so disinclined. Does somebody need to get out the chicken suit?"
Johnson said Corbyn's position to support an election once legislation blocking a no-deal Brexit was in play was "politically unsustainable". He believes the British people want a clear, decisive plan and want out of the European Union on October 31 with or without a deal in place.
"I think the position of the Labour Party, to be so consumed of cowardice as to resist a general election, is not politically sustainable."
Johnson also commented on shunting the rebel Tory MPs from his own party after they voted in support of the Opposition's Bill to block a no-deal Brexit.
Among those kicked out of the party are Sir Winston Churchill's grandson Sir Nicholas Soames and Kenneth Clarke, the longest-standing Conservative MP who has served as Home Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer and High Chancellor.
"These are friends of mine and believe me I take absolutely no joy in any of it, but it was very sad and surprising that they should choose to undermine the UK's ability to get a deal," Johnson said.
"Alas, for those colleagues who had plenty of warning and explanation of what we want, they were backing a Bill that effectively frustrates Brexit."
Having an election would have allowed Johnson to purge his party of the rebels - who have been told they won't be allowed to stand for the party again - and install loyalists in support of Britain leaving the European Union on October 31.
Johnson lost his parliamentary majority on Wednesday after Conservative Party MP Phillip Lee defected to the Liberal Democrats.
Recent polling from YouGov found 35 percent of respondents supported the Conservative Party, 25 percent support the Labour Party, 16 percent support the Liberal Democrats, 11 percent support the Brexit Party, and 7 percent support the Greens.
Johnson has now lost all three votes while he has been Prime Minister. To put that in perspective, Tony Blark lost four times in a decade, while Margaret Thatcher lost the same number of times in eleven years. Johnson hit that number in 24 hours.
No-deal Brexit effect on New Zealand
A no-deal Brexit would cause significant uncertainty for Kiwi exporters. The UK is one of New Zealand's largest export markets, meaning Brexit will have massive implications for Aotearoa.
While a transition period would be enacted if the UK left the EU with a deal, allowing countries to establish new agreements with the UK and EU, a no-deal situation would have sudden effect.
"A no-deal Brexit would likely increase the costs and procurement times of New Zealand exports, reducing demand for these products," said IBISWorld senior industry analyst Liam Harrison in April.
"In event of a no-deal Brexit, the UK reverts to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules regarding trade, which would force the UK to place tariffs and quotas on certain products."
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand does have several agreements and continuity arrangements in place to ensure continuity in some trading conditions between New Zealand and the UK, especially in the case of a no-deal exit.
But New Zealand Trade Enterprise has also released information on how businesses can prepare themselves for when Brexit arrives.
Newshub.
