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WORLD NEWS Friday 10 January 2020
Lawmakers approve Brexit bill, UK on course for Jan 31 exit

Associated Press sues in less than a year. Brit-
LONDON (AP) — Britain ish officials have suggested
passed a long-elusive mile- they could carve the ne-
stone on the road to Brexit gotiations up into chunks,
on Thursday when the sealing deals one sector at
House of Commons ap- a time.
proved a bill authorizing The two sides also have
the country's departure conflicting demands that
from the European Union at are likely to complicate ne-
the end of the month. gotiations.
Lawmakers voted by 330- Johnson says the U.K. is
231 to pass the Withdrawal seeking a wide-ranging
Agreement Bill, which sets free trade deal with the
the terms of Britain's de- bloc, but doesn't want to
parture from the 28-nation agree to keep all EU rules
bloc. The comfortable ma- and standards. It wants to
jority won by Prime Minis- be free to diverge in order
ter Boris Johnson's Conser- to strike new trade deals
vatives in an election last around the world.
month secured the bill's The EU says the U.K. won't
passage despite the oppo- get good access to its mar-
sition of smaller parties. Remain in the European Union, anti-Brexit protesters, including Steve Bray, at right, demonstrate ket unless it agrees to align-
outside the Houses of Parliament in London, on the day of Prime Minister's Questions taking place
The bill was approved after inside, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020. ment. EU officials worry that
three days of debate that Associated Press Britain plans to cut environ-
brought none of the frayed mental and employment
tempers, late-night sessions to remain in the EU in 2016 International trade agree- the start of 2021. Econo- standards in order to posi-
and knife-edge votes that — must now be granted a ments typically take years mists say that would disrupt tion itself as a low-regula-
marked previous rounds of referendum on indepen- to complete, but John- trade with the EU — Britain's tion, low-tax competitor to
Brexit wrangling over the dence. Johnson has said son has ruled out extend- biggest trading partner — the bloc.
past year. that won't happen. ing a post-Brexit transition and plunge the U.K. into The bloc has stressed the
After passing through Par- "This is a constitutional crisis, period agreed by the two recession. need for a level playing
liament's unelected House because we will not and sides beyond the end of Britain and the EU will have field in the upcoming trade
of Lords -- which can delay we cannot accept what is 2020, although the EU has to strike deals on every- negotiations, meaning that
but not overturn the result being done to us," Black- offered to prolong it until thing from trade in goods access to the EU market will
in the Commons -- the bill ford said. 2022. That has set off alarm and services to fishing, avi- be linked to U.K. commit-
should become law in time Despite Johnson's repeat- bells among U.K. business- ation, medicines and secu- ments to standards in area
for the U.K. to leave the EU ed promise to "get Brexit es, which fear Britain could rity. The EU insists there is no including workers' rights
on the scheduled date of done" on Jan. 31, the de- face a "no-deal" Brexit at way to deal with all these is- and the environment.q
Jan. 31 and become the parture will only mark the
first nation ever to quit the start of the first stage of the
bloc. country's EU exit. Britain and
Brexit Secretary Stephen the EU will then launch into
Barclay said he welcomed negotiations on their future
the "constructive scrutiny" relationship, racing to strike
of the Lords but hoped the new relationships for trade,
upper house would not try security and a host of other
to delay the bill. areas by the end of 2020.
"I have no doubt that their "Leaving the EU doesn't
lordships will have heard mean that we will have got
the resounding message Brexit done," said Paul Blom-
from the British people on field, a Brexit spokesman for
the 12th of December," he the main opposition Labour
said. Party. "We'll have complet-
Thursday's vote was a ma- ed the first step, departure,
jor victory for Johnson, who but the difficult stage is yet
has made delivering Brexit to come."
the key aim of his premier- Top officials in the bloc are
ship. Britain voted narrowly already saying that sealing
to leave the EU in a 2016 a new deal will be tough.
referendum. But before the Michel Barnier, the EU's
Dec. 12 election, lawmak- chief Brexit negotiator, said
ers repeatedly defeated Thursday that Britain's goal
attempts by both Johnson of striking a full free trade
and predecessor Theresa agreement by the end-of-
May to secure backing for year deadline that Johnson
their Brexit blueprints. insists on was unrealistic.
Conservative lawmakers "We cannot expect to
cheered when the result of agree on every aspect of
the vote was announced. this new partnership," Bar-
But Ian Blackford of the nier said, adding "we are
Scottish National Party said ready to do our best in the
Scotland — which voted 11 months."