Boris Johnson criticized by parliament after losing majority

Members of the British parliament on Tuesday gave Prime Minister Boris Johnson a rowdy response at a parliamentary meeting in which Johnson’s Conservative Party lost its majority in the governing body. 

“Britain is on the verge…of taking back control of our trade policy and restoring our independent seat in the [World Trade Organization] for the first time in 46 years,”  Johnson said, which was met with shouts from members of parliament (MPs). 

The criticism follows an attempt by Johnson to suspend parliament as he aims to limit its ability to block a no-deal Brexit. 

During Tuesday’s meeting, MP Phillip Lee, who was a Conservative, crossed the House to join the Liberal Democrats, which stripped the prime minister of his majority. {mosads}

After the interruptions of speech, House of Commons Speaker John Bercow called the body to order. 

“I ask the House to have some regard to how our proceedings are viewed by people outside the chamber. I will always facilitate the expression of opinion by this House — Order. — Meanwhile the prime minister is making a statement and that statement should be heard and he will be heard as will ever other member,” Bercow said.

Johnson then repeated that the country was taking back control of its trade policy, which was met by laughter. 

He also endorsed a “comprehensive free trade deal” with the U.S.

“We could achieve even more in our trade with the United States by using the powers we will regain to do a comprehensive free trade deal, a deal in which President Trump and I have agreed that the [U.K.’s National Health Service] is not on the table.” 

Queen Elizabeth II last week granted Johnson’s request to suspend parliament and the royal court said in a statement that the body would “prorogued” between Sept. 9 and Oct. 14, which would give lawmakers just 17 days to negotiate a Brexit deal before the Oct. 31 deadline for the country’s exit from the European Union. 

Johnson, a leading advocate for leaving the EU, became prime minister through a conservative party election last month after Theresa May stepped down.