British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been accused by European Union officials of failing to negotiate seriously and branded "far of lies" by a lawyer in UK Supreme Court, as his plan to leave EU in just over six weeks faced hurdles on both sides of Channel.

European Parliament blames Britain for -deal

In Strasbourg, France, European Parliament said on Wednesday it would be fault of Britain, t bloc, if UK crashed out of EU without a divorce deal on scheduled October 31 departure day. In London, Johnson's government battled to convince UK's top court that prime minister's decision to suspend Parliament for five weeks with Brexit looming was neir illegal r improper. government's opponents claim Johnson illegally shut down legislature to prevent lawmakers from scrutinising his Brexit plans.

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Johnson's Brexit struggles 

Government lawyer James Eie told 11 Supreme Court justices that decision to send lawmakers home until October 14 was "inherently and fundamentally political in nature," and t a matter for judiciary. He said that if court intervened it would violate "fundamental constitutional principle" of separation of powers. But a lawyer for lawmakers challenging shutdown accused government of being "unworthy of our trust." "We've got here mor of parliaments being shut down by far of lies," said attorney Aidan O'Neill. "Isn't it odd that body has signed a witness statement to say: 'This is true. se are true reasons for what was done'?" said one of judges, Nicholas Wilson.

developments were latest in a rocky week for Johnson, who pulled out of a news conference with prime minister of Luxembourg on Monday because of isy protesters nearby. On Wednesday he was berated by far of a sick child over funding cuts to Britain's health service as he visited a London hospital. Johnson took power in July with a vow that Britain will leave EU on Oct. 31 "come what may." He promised to break a stalemate that saw Brexit agreement struck between EU and Johnson's predecessor resa May rejected three times by Britain's Parliament, prompting May to resign.

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-deal Brexit's consequences

Many lawmakers believe a -deal Brexit would be ecomically devastating and socially destabilising, and have put obstacles in Johnson's path, including legal challenges to Parliament shutdown. Last week, Scotland's highest civil court ruled move illegal, saying it h intention of stymieing Parliament. High Court in London, however, said it was t a matter for courts. Supreme Court is being asked to decide who is right in a three-day hearing that ends Thursday. If it overturns suspension, lawmakers could be called back to Parliament as early as next week. Johnson insists he is working hard to get an agreement with EU that will ensure a smooth departure. EU leers are skeptical of that claim.

Juncker warns of '-deal'

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Wednesday that risk of a -deal Brexit remained "very real" because Britain still h t produced workable new proposals. "I asked British prime minister to specify alternative arrangements that he could envis," Juncker said. "As long as such proposals are t me, I cant tell you while looking you straight in eye that progress is being me." Juncker, who met with Johnson on Monday, told a garing of European Parliament that a -deal Brexit "might be choice of UK, but it will never be ours." main sticking point over a Brexit deal is Irish border "backstop," an insurance policy that would require Britain to respect EU tre and customs rules in order to avoid a hard border between EU member Ireland and UK's rrn Ireland until a better solution is found.

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Pro-Brexit against rrn Ireland backstop

Pro-Brexit British politicians oppose backstop because it would prevent UK from striking new tre deals around world. Johnson says he won't back any Brexit deal unless backstop is removed. But EU sees measure as essential to ensuring an open border, which underpins local ecomy and peace process that ended deces of violence in rrn Ireland. "I have sentimental attachment to backstop," Juncker said. But he ded that he remains committed to purpose it serves, which is to prevent border structures that could be detrimental to peace in rrn Ireland. "That is why I called on British prime minister to come forward with concrete proposals, operational and in writing, on all alternatives that would allow us to reach se objectives," Juncker said.

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said re was point "pretending to negotiate." "It's our responsibility to continue this process with determination and sincerity," said Barnier, who offered to keep working "night and day" in order to find a deal that could satisfy both sides.

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