This week, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson suspended Parliament ahead of an October deadline for the U.K. to leave the European Union.
Former KRWG reporter Simon Thompson, who now writes for a financial magazine in London, talked with people there about Johnson's approach, for which he has been compared to President Donald Trump.
I am at The Pride of Spitial Fields, a pub in East London, to hear what people think about Brexit and Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s attempts to force it through Parliament. Jace Thompson is a having a drink with a mate at the bar.
“He doesn’t represent the people he is a unelected politician and now he is trying to shut down the only place where elected politicians discuss stuff that matters… so he is basically turning a democracy into a dictatorship, ” Thompson said.
Also drinking with a mate at the pub is Terry Eury. He says...after four years, forcing Brexit through Parliament may be the only way to fulfill the mandate of the majority of voters, who like himself voted to leave the European Union.
“17.4 million people voted for Brexit and that is what he is trying to do now- give the people what they voted for 17.4 million people to get out of the EU- and that is what he is doing. So you think it is necessary? 100%,” Eury said.
Parliament voted to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
Public opinion is divided. But a ComRes survey for the British newspaper The Telegraph suggests the Prime Minister does have significant support.
The poll asked British adults if Boris Johnson quote "needs to deliver Brexit by any means, including suspending parliament if necessary, in order to prevent MPs from stopping it." 44 percent agreed, 37 percent disagreed, and 19% were unsure.
For KRWG Public Media, I'm Simon Thompson in London.