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LONDON, Sept.8-- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was given a boost Sunday when three separate opinion polls gave his Conservative Party a lead over rivals. It came as a war of words continued following the resignation of one of Johnson's key front bench ministers, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd. The boost for Johnson also came as politicians prepared for another showdown in the House of Commons Monday when a second attempt is to be made to call a snap general election. The main opposition Labour Party have joined forces with the minority Liberal Democrats, Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP), Plaid Cymru and the Green Party. Their collective vote means Johnson won't win the two thirds majority to trigger an election in mid-October ahead of the October 17 crucial meeting in Brussels of the European Council. Queen Elizabeth II is scheduled to give Royal Assent Monday to the opposition parties' legislation aimed at preventing Johnson from taking Britain out of the European Union on October 31 unless there is a deal agreed with the EU. The new law means Johnson will face having to ask EU members to grant an extension to the departure date until the end of next January. The polls boost for Johnson came despite suffering major defeats in the House of Commons in the past few days. He had also faced criticism for firing 21 MPs, including a number of senior party veterans, from the Conservative benches for siding with the opposition in the votes. | 
