Economy

U.K. Parliament meets for Brexit deal vote in rare Saturday session

October 21, 2019 02:40·
UK Parliament Could Reduce Significance Of Brexit Vote

UK Parliament Could Reduce Significance Of Brexit Vote

Mrs May's support for Mr Johnson's deal comes despite his critics claiming that his version of the withdrawal agreement does just that.

A defiant Mr. Johnson said he would push for another vote on his agreement early next week.

Under U.K. law, Johnson is required to either get his deal approved today or seek an extension from the European Union to that end-of-October date, but Johnson vowed to forge ahead. But he followed it with a signed letter indicating that he does not favor another extension.

In a move created to prevent the United Kingdom slipping out of the European Union without a deal by design or default, Letwin's amendment delays parliament's ultimate decision on Johnson's Brexit deal until the very end of the process. But it could also spell real problems if Johnson makes further attempts to refuse to discuss the three-month extension specified in the Benn Act.

Michael Gove tells Sky News that "we are preparing to ensure that, if no extension is granted, we have done everything possible in order to prepare to leave without a deal".

"It means that we are triggering Operation Yellowhammer".

Instead of voting on the deal, MPs backed an amendment that buys a little more time.

Separately, it is seeking a new yes-or-no vote on approving the deal on Monday, although this may fall foul of parliamentary procedure.

When it comes to a vote in a divided parliament where he has no majority, Johnson must win the support of 320 lawmakers to pass his deal.

The Sunday Express banner headline was "Why Won't They Let Us Leave?" and the Mail on Sunday went with "House of Fools". "October 31 is within sight", Mr Gove said.

In the midst of all this, European Union leaders and officials across the Channel were pondering whether to grant the British leader a Brexit extension that he does not even want.

Johnson's Conservative party has only 233 seats in the 650-seat House of Commons, so he needs the support of at least some opposition lawmakers.

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Shadow chancellor John McDonnell accused Mr Johnson of "behaving a bit like a spoilt brat" in the way he communicated with Brussels over the extension request.

Labour's Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer told the BBC it is "inevitable" that lawmakers opposed to Brexit will put forward an amendment seeking a second referendum - something strongly opposed by Johnson and his government. "It now looks unlikely that we will, so as you can probably imagine the anger that is building amongst British voters is unlike anything I have ever seen before".

"I think it's a shame that here in the heart of Westminster, the beacon of democracy the world over, is now looking more shaky than it ever could do", he said.

European Union diplomats and officials told Reuters on Sunday that, depending on the next developments in London, extension options range from just an additional month until the end of November to half a year or longer.

Ambassadors and senior officials from the other 27 member states met Sunday.

"The EU will probably pursue this strategy until there is clarity on the British side", he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The former Prime Minister said that if MPs "don't want no deal they have to vote for a deal" and argued Parliament would be guilty of "most egregious con trick" if they failed to endorse Mr Johnson's plans.

And furious Cabinet Ministers broke cover to publicly slam Sir Oliver, with Trade Secretary Liz Truss tweeting: 'Extremely frustrating meaningful vote has been prevented.

Protesters in an anti-Brexit, "Let Us Be Heard" march on Piccadilly in London, as they head to Parliament Square.

When will MEPs vote on the new deal or an extension?

Suspended former Cabinet Ministers including Philip Hammond, David Gauke and Amber Rudd backed Sir Oliver's amendment, which Lord Pannick helped write, created to force Mr Johnson to seek a Brexit extension tonight.

"We can not guarantee that the European Council will grant an extension", he said, adding that he would chair a meeting on Sunday "to ensure that the next stage of our exit preparations, our preparedness for a no deal, is accelerated".

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