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-Eyes on Supreme Court decision
听Statements following British Prime Minister Boris Johnson鈥檚 working lunch with outgoing European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker last Monday were more or less a repetition of Johnson and the EU鈥檚 stance on Brexit with little progress made.
"The aim of the meeting was to take stock of the ongoing technical talks between the EU and the U.K. and to discuss the next steps," the European Commission said in a statement.
Juncker stressed that it was the U.K.'s responsibility to come forward with legally operational solutions compatible with the withdrawal agreement.
He also noted the commission鈥檚 continued "willingness and openness" to examine whether such proposals meet the objectives of the Irish backstop.听
"Such proposals have not yet been made," the statement read.
A Downing Street spokesperson described the meeting between Johnson and Juncker as "constructive".
"The leaders took stock of the ongoing talks between the U.K.鈥檚 team and Taskforce 50 [the EU taskforce in charge of preparing and conducting the negotiations with the U.K.] The Prime Minister reconfirmed his commitment to the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement and his determination to reach a deal with the backstop removed, that U.K. parliamentarians could support," the spokesperson said in a statement.听
In the midst of the Brexit chaos, the Supreme Court is due to announce its ruling early this week on whether the court finds the government guilty of illegally proroguing parliament, based on the growing belief in the legal community that Johnson鈥檚 advice to the Queen to suspend parliament for five weeks is unlawful, according to The Guardian newspaper.
鈥淭he dominant feeling among informed observers is that the government is on the ropes and it鈥檚 going to lose,鈥� The Guardian reported Philippe Sands QC, professor of law at University College London as saying.听
If this is the case, it will mark another defeat for Johnson.
Undoubtedly, parliament will push Johnson to write a letter to Brussels for an extension to Article 50, a task he would rather avoid. And should he not concede to parliament鈥檚 wishes, there is a likelihood that he could resign.