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Boris Johnson has bizarrely compared the Brexit process to the torment of Greek mythological figure Prometheus, who was chained to a rock as an eagle pecked out his liver every day for eternity.
The Prime Minister’s bid to get the UK out of the EU by the Halloween deadline was yesterday dealt a huge blow when the Supreme Court ruled his prorogation of Parliament was unlawful.
Appearing to address the situation, Mr Johnson compared the attitude of some MPs towards Brexit to how the Greek god Zeus secured Prometheus to a rock and sent an eagle to eat his liver, which regrew only to be eaten again and again.
In a fiery speech at the annual gathering of world leaders for the UN General Assembly in New York last night, Mr Johnson added: “This went on forever, a bit like the experience of Brexit in the UK, if some of our parliamentarians had their way.”
Boris Johnson speaks during the United Nations General Assembly in New York (AFP/Getty Images)
More than three years after the UK voted in a referendum to leave the European Union, the country remains deeply divided over the issue and the Brexit process has become mired in confusion.
Mr Johnson has vowed that Britain will leave the EU by October 31, come what may.
The PM is set to fly back into a political storm as Parliament today reopens after the bombshell Supreme Court ruling that his five-week shutdown was unlawful.
Mr Johnson made the bizarre comparison after his prorogation of Parliament was ruled to be unlawful (PA)
The PM will fight calls for his resignation from furious opposition parties determined to hold him to account over his Brexit plans as he returns from a UN summit in New York.
Downing Street insisted there was no question of him standing aside despite the UK’s highest court yesterday ruling there was no “reasonable justification” for his advice to the Queen to prorogue Parliament for five weeks.
While he said he had the “utmost respect” for the judiciary and would abide by the court’s ruling, Mr Johnson nevertheless said he “strongly disagreed” with its decision.
He also issued a warning to pro-Remain MPs not to try to “frustrate” the will of the people by blocking Brexit. “I think it would be very unfortunate if Parliament made that objective which the people want more difficult but we will get on,” he said.
Mr Johnson is expected to land in the UK around midday. It is thought likely that he will address the Commons in the afternoon.
