MPs to vote on latest bid to try to prevent a no-deal Brexit

The measure being voted on does not go as far as an outright block on parliament being suspended

LONDON (Reuters) - British lawmakers will vote on Thursday on a beefed-up proposal aimed at making it harder for the next prime minister to try to force through a no-deal Brexit by suspending parliament. Boris Johnson, the frontrunner to succeed Prime Minister Theresa May next week, has said Britain must leave the European Union on Oct. 31, with or without a deal, and has refused to rule out suspending parliament to prevent lawmakers from trying to block his exit plan. The measure being voted on does not go as far as an outright block on parliament being suspended but lawmakers have put forward a further proposal which could require parliament to sit for several days even if it has been suspended. The BBC reported some senior ministers, some of whom are likely facing the sack for their opposition to a no deal if Johnson wins, were considering resigning to support the proposal. “The idea that parliament should be suspended in October ... at a crucial point in this country’s history, that parliament should not be able to sit, should not be able to express its opinion and its will, I think would be outrageous,” Justice Secretary David Gauke told BBC Radio. Asked if he would vote for the proposal, something that would require him to resign, he said: “I will have to see what the precise amendments are ... I’m not in a position to necessarily say.” The result is likely to be very close: an earlier ballot on a less far-reaching version of the proposal last week passed by just one vote. That narrow vote was in favour of a change to a piece of legislation to add a requirement that ministers make fortnightly reports on progress towards re-establishing Northern Ireland’s collapsed executive. Those hoping to stop a no-deal Brexit believe this could require parliament to be in session throughout the run-up to Brexit day, complicating any bid by Britain’s new prime minister to “prorogue”, or suspend, the legislature. On Thursday, lawmakers will be asked to give final approval to the measure, which has since been strengthened by parliament’s upper chamber, the House of Lords. The Lords added a requirement that the government’s report on its progress in Northern Ireland would need to be approved by lawmakers, giving them a possible route to try to stop a no-deal such as attaching a vote to request a delay to Brexit. A further, more far-reaching, clause which would require parliament to sit for several days even if it has been prorogued could also be voted on. The votes are expected in the early afternoon.