Brexit vote: President Bercow has it in hand

United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum

all articles

Shortly before the planned exit on October 31, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson has negotiated a Brexit deal with the EU. The British Parliament could vote for the second time today.

On Saturday, parliament had postponed a decision on the agreement, causing Johnson a defeat. The goal of the adjournment was to rule out a no-deal. The MEPs voted in favor of a motion to postpone the decision until the ratification Act has been passed. Exactly this scene could repeat itself today, if parliamentary president John Bercow allows the vote at all.

The decision about it Bercow wants to announce in the late afternoon in the lower house in London. If he clears the way, then MEPs could vote that same day. Also with amendments of parliamentarians is expected again.

more on the subject

All the facts about British EU exitThe Brexikon

The consequence of the delay on Saturday: Johnson was required by law to apply in Brussels for an extension of the Brexit deadline beyond October 31st - he did so reluctantly and without signature on the official letter. His behavior could play a role at a court hearing in Scotland on Monday. Critics accuse Johnson of torpedoing Parliament's will.

The "Guardian" wrote, rumors that Johnson would only vote again on Monday on his deal, so that he can withdraw the extension of the EU deadline. The vote would be a so-called "yes / no meaningful vote".

Time is short: Johnson has only one and a half weeks to lead the UK out of the EU as planned. Foreign Minister Dominic Raab and other Cabinet members see opportunities for the deal. There seems to be sufficient support in the lower house, says Raab.

Hard Brexit increasingly unlikely

A chaos Brexit end of October with all its economic turmoil is unlikely. The British Minister of State Michael Gove threatened again on Sunday and said that the danger had increased. Health Minister Matt Hancock also said there was no good reason to postpone the EU exit, his ministry was ready to leave without an agreement. But a majority in the lower house is against it. The European Union is also not interested in how diplomats in Brussels reiterated this weekend.

Johnson has no parliamentary majority in the Brexit class, and has every vote to ratify the Brexit deal. Meanwhile, the Labor Party signaled its readiness to support an agreement if it is put to a vote in a referendum.

Johnson had agreed a few days ago after a long dispute with the EU, an amended exit agreement, which was immediately approved by the EU leaders. The question of how the border between the EU Member State of Ireland and Northern Ireland can remain open even after Brexit has been clarified. In addition, Johnson agreed with Brussels in a political statement that in the longer term there should only be a loose bond between his country and the EU.