In an article in The Sunday Times, John Major and Tony Blair slammed the current British government for “shaming” the country with legislation that, in places, goes against the very deal it signed to allow for the U.K.’s smooth departure from the EU earlier this year.

Britain left the European Union on Jan. 31 but talks on new trade terms have made little headway as the clock ticks down to an October deadline.

The EU warned Britain that any attempt to renege on commitments made ahead of its departure from the bloc earlier this year would put at risk the hard-won peace in Northern Ireland.

'We can't allow ourselves to be dragged along in the wake of another government's ... shambolic decision-making process,' said Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Legislators picked Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster as first minister with Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neil as deputy leader.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's victory could potentially imperil the future of the United Kingdom of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The 31 men and eight women are believed to have paid people traffickers for their clandestine transit into England.

The British prime minister wants a snap election before Christmas but has twice failed to garner enough support for an early election.

U.K. police found the bodies of 38 adults and one teenager early on Wednesday in a truck container on an industrial estate in England.

Johnson made clear he was making the request under duress. The letter was not signed. It was accompanied by a second letter, signed by Johnson, arguing that delay would “damage the interests if the U.K. and our EU partners.”