Angry lawmakers challenge attorney general on Brexit advice

LONDON (AP) — British Attorney General Geoffrey Cox accused Parliament on Wednesday of being a "disgrace" as lawmakers returned for the first day of work since a bombshell court decision deemed Prime Minister Boris Johnson's suspension of Parliament to be illegal.

Cox's baritone voice boomed across the House of Commons as he defended the advice he gave Johnson backing the suspension. He aggressively took the offensive, accusing what he called a "dead Parliament" of being "too cowardly" to vote for no-confidence motion in Johnson's government, which would trigger an early election.

"This Parliament should have the courage to face the electorate, but it won't, because so many of them are really all about preventing us leaving the European Union," he told lawmakers. "But the time is coming. The time is coming, Mr. Speaker, when even these turkeys won't be able to prevent Christmas."

Johnson remains on a collision course with Parliament over his determination to pull Britain out of the European Union on Oct. 31 even if no divorce deal is reached. Parliament has passed a law requiring him to seek a Brexit extension if there is no deal, but Johnson says he won't do that under any circumstances.

The prime minister flew back to London in the morning, cutting short a trip to the U.N. General Assembly in New York as demands for his resignation rose from opposition parties after the court ruling.

After the court ruling Tuesday, Johnson had brushed aside questions about whether he would resign. He said he "strongly" disagreed with the court decision and even suggested he might try to suspend Parliament for a second time.

In the House of Commons, newly-returned lawmakers focused their ire Wednesday on Cox, who was forced to concede that he may have to make further disclosures...