Page 9 - AT

A9
WORLD NEWS Wednesday 23 OctOber 2019

Brexit in limbo as Boris Johnson wins 1 vote, loses another

By JILL LAWLESS days" whether to grant Brit- would leave the bloc on The Brexit deal sets out the transition period, uncertain-
DANICA KIRKA ain that extension — what the scheduled date of Oct. terms of Britain's depar- ty for millions of citizens and
Associated Press would be the third. French 31, come what may. ture, including measures to a host of new tariffs, cus-
LONDON (AP) — British toms checks and other bar-
Prime Minister Boris Johnson riers to trade on Day 1. Most
won one vote and lost an- economists say that would
other in Parliament on Tues- send unemployment ris-
day, a result that inches him ing, the value of the pound
closer to his goal of leading plummeting and plunge
Britain out of the European the U.K. into recession.
Union — but effectively Many lawmakers felt that
guarantees it won't hap- three days was not nearly
pen on the scheduled date enough time for scrutiny
of Oct. 31. of the 115-page bill. Ma-
The good news for the jor bills usually take weeks
prime minister was that law- or months to pass through
makers — for the first time Parliament, giving time for
since Britons chose in 2016 line-by-line scrutiny by law-
to leave the EU — voted for makers.
a Brexit plan, backing by Before Tuesday's votes,
329-299 a bill to implement Green lawmaker Caroline
the agreement Johnson Lucas tweeted that law-
struck with the EU last week. makers "had more time to
But minutes later, legislators debate the Wild Animals
rejected his fast-track time- in Circuses Act (affecting
table to pass the bill, saying 19 animals) than they will
they needed more time to to decide the future of 65
scrutinize it. The vote went million people. It's hard to
322-308 against the gov- think of anything which
ernment. better illustrates this Govt's
Johnson responded by contempt for people, Par-
stopping the legislation Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks in the House of Commons in London liament & democracy."
dead in its tracks. He had during the debate for the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill, Tuesday Oct. 22, 2019. After the votes, many law-
planned to push it through Associated Press makers urged Johnson to
the House of Commons by push ahead with the bill
Thursday. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves "If Parliament refuses to al- maintain an open border after securing a delay to
But he said he would Le Drian told French law- low Brexit to happen and between the U.K.'s North- Brexit. Opposition Labour
"pause" the legislation un- makers Tuesday that he instead ... decides to delay ern Ireland and EU member Party leader Jeremy Cor-
til the EU had decided sees "no justification" at this everything until January or Ireland. It also enshrines the byn urged the prime min-
whether to agree to delay stage for a further delay. possibly longer, in no cir- right of U.K. and EU citizens ister to "work with us all of
Britain's departure. But Tuesday's votes make it cumstances can the gov- living in the other's territory use to agree a reasonable
With the Brexit deadline all but impossible for John- ernment continue with this to continue with their lives, timetable" for its passage.
looming and British politi- son to fulfil his often-repeat- (bill)," he said. and sets out the multibillion If Johnson does press
cians still squabbling over ed promise to lead Britain Last week Johnson struck pound (dollar) payments ahead with the bill, opposi-
the country's departure out of the EU on Oct. 31. a divorce deal with the 27 Britain must make to meet tion lawmakers plan to seek
terms, Johnson was forced Johnson earlier said he other EU leaders, but on its financial obligations to amendments that could
to ask the EU for a three- could call a vote on hold- Saturday he failed to win the EU. substantially alter the bill,
month delay to Britain's de- ing a snap general election Parliament's backing for it. But the deal does not cov- for example by adding a
parture date. if Parliament blocked his His only remaining hope er the nitty gritty of future requirement that the Brexit
He did that, grudgingly, to plans and Brexit was de- of leaving on time was to relations between the U.K. deal be put to voters in a
comply with a law passed layed much longer. get lawmakers to pass the and the EU: Instead, it con- new referendum, or by re-
by Parliament ordering the He hopes an election might Brexit-implementing bill into firms a transition period last- quiring the government to
government to postpone break the political dead- law before the scheduled ing until at least the end of extend the transition period
Brexit rather than risk the lock over Brexit that has departure date, nine days 2020 — and possibly 2022 until a new trade deal with
economic damage that dragged on for more than away. — in which relations will the EU has been agreed.
could come from a no- three years since British vot- Johnson said backing the remain frozen as they are The government says such
deal exit. ers opted to leave the EU. bill would allow lawmakers now while a permanent major amendments would
European Council Presi- "I will in no way allow to "turn the page and al- new relationship is worked wreck its legislation, and
dent Donald Tusk said ear- months more of this," said low this Parliament and this out. it would withdraw the
lier Tuesday that EU lead- Johnson, who took power country to begin to heal If Britain leaves the EU with- bill if the opposition plan
ers "will decide in coming in July vowing that the U.K. and unite." out a deal, there will be no succeeds.q