BREXIT : what's happened ?

[Anthea]

UK will leave EU this month

Boris said "I will not negotiate a delay with the EU"

Ministers insist the UK will leave the EU by 31 October, despite a letter sent to Brussels asking for a delay.

Boris Johnson sent the letter - unsigned - after a major setback in the Commons to his Brexit strategy.

But the request was accompanied by a second letter, signed by the PM, saying he believed a delay would be a mistake.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the PM had "proved the doubters wrong" by getting a new deal and he was confident Brexit would still happen on Halloween.

His colleague, Michael Gove, told Sky News' Sophy Ridge the government had "the means and ability" to leave on 31 October.

EU Council President Donald Tusk has acknowledged receipt of the UK's extension request and said he would consult EU leaders "on how to react".

Mr Johnson has spoken to fellow leaders and Mr Tusk, telling them the letter "is Parliament's letter, not my letter".

The prime minster had intended to bring his deal to Parliament on Saturday - the first such sitting in the Commons for 37 years - and ask MPs to approve it.

However, MPs instead voted in favour of an amendment withholding approval of the deal until all the necessary legislation to implement it had been passed.

Tabled by Tory MP Sir Oliver Letwin, the amendment was intended to ensure that Mr Johnson would comply with the terms of the so-called Benn Act designed to eliminate any possibility of a no-deal exit on 31 October.

Under that act, Mr Johnson had until 23:00 BST on Saturday to send a letter requesting a delay to the UK's departure - something he did with, albeit without his signature.

Sir Oliver Letwin: Brexit deal "is not perfect but it will do"

Mr Letwin told the BBC's Andrew Marr his amendment was "an insurance policy" and now it had passed, he would give his full support to the prime minister's deal.

However, Mr Gove, who as chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is in charge of no-deal planning, accused those who backed it of voting "explicitly to try to frustrate this process and to drag it out"

He said "the prime minister's determination is absolute" and the government's "determined policy" was to meet the 31 October deadline.

"We know that the EU want us to leave, we know that we have a deal that allows us to leave," he added.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-50115151

[Anthea]

Brexit bill 'in limbo'
as MPs reject timetable

Boris Johnson has hit the pause button on his Brexit legislation after MPs rejected his plan to get it through the Commons in three days

MPs backed his Withdrawal Agreement Bill - but minutes later voted against the timetable, leaving it "in limbo".

After the vote, EU Council President Donald Tusk said he would recommend EU leaders backed an extension to the 31 October Brexit deadline.

But a No 10 source said if a delay was granted, the PM would seek an election.

On Saturday, Mr Johnson complied with a law demanding he write to the EU to ask for a three-month extension, but did not sign the letter.

Following the result in the Commons, he said it was Parliament and not the government that had requested an extension.

Mr Johnson said he would reiterate his pledge to EU leaders, telling them it was still his policy to leave by the end of October.

But Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg told MPs it was "very hard" to see how the necessary laws could be passed to leave with a deal by the deadline.

View from the EU

A spokesman from the European Commission said: "[The Commission] takes note of tonight's result and expects the UK government to inform us about the next steps."

But Mr Tusk tweeted he would "recommend the EU27 accept the UK request for an extension" in order to "avoid a no-deal Brexit".

The BBC's Europe editor Katya Adler said: "[The] temptation amongst most I speak to tonight in EU circles is to grant the 31 Jan extension."

And the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said that meant the government's plan to seek an election was "looking likely".

However, an EU source told BBC Brussels reporter Adam Fleming the bloc was considering a "flextension" - an extension with a maximum end date, but the flexibility for the UK to leave early if a deal is ratified.

Following Tuesday's Commons votes, a Downing Street source said Parliament "blew its last chance".

They added: "If Parliament's delay is agreed by Brussels, then the only way the country can move on is with an election."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Mr Johnson was "the author of his own misfortune".

He told the Commons that MPs had "refused to be bounced into debating a hugely significantly piece of legislation in just two days, with barely any notice or an analysis of the economic impact of this bill".

But Mr Corbyn offered to enter discussions over a "sensible" timetable for the PM's deal to go through Parliament.

The SNP's leader, Ian Blackford, said it was "another humiliating defeat" for the PM, and MPs had "spoken with a very clear voice to tell the PM he is not on".

Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson called on Mr Johnson to "end the brinkmanship and replace it with some statesmanship" in order to secure an extension with the EU.

Brexit bill's journey so far

Boris Johnson agreed his new plan with EU leaders last week, but has repeatedly pledged to leave the bloc by the end of October, with or without a deal.

This is despite him having to ask for an extension to Brexit on Saturday after MPs backed an amendment attempting to block a no-deal.

The bill that would turn his plan into law - the Withdrawal Agreement Bill - was published on Monday evening, and he urged MPs to back a three-day timetable to push it through the Commons ahead of the Halloween deadline.

The PM told Parliament if it "decides to delay everything until January or possibly longer", he would seek an election - but he did not say what the government would do if the EU offered a shorter extension.

MPs did approve the bill on its first hurdle through the Commons - called the second reading - by 329 votes to 299.

But in a vote straight after, they rejected the so-called programme motion, in other words the planned timetable to get the bill through Parliament, by 14 votes after a number of MPs criticised the pace of the legislation.

What happens next?

Mr Johnson told the Commons: "I will speak to EU member states about their intentions [but] until they have reached a decision - until we reach a decision, I will say - we will pause this legislation."

In the meantime, however, he said the government would "take the only responsible course and accelerate our preparations for a no deal outcome".

The PM added: "Let me be clear. Our policy remains that we should not delay [and] that we should leave the EU on 31 October."

If an election were to be triggered this week, the earliest it could take place would be Thursday 28 November, as the law requires 25 days between an election being called in Parliament and polling day.

But Mr Johnson cannot force an election himself and would need the backing of Parliament.

MPs had been due to debate the bill over Wednesday and Thursday, but will now return to discussing the contents of the Queen's Speech - which put forward the government's domestic agenda for the new session of Parliament.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-50146182

[Anthea]

I smell the free fresh air of freedom

And it smells soooooo good

[Anthea]

Brexit trade deal is signed into law

Boris Johnson has heralded a 'new beginning in our country's history' after his Brexit trade deal was signed into law and set the stage for a smooth divorce from the EU tonight

The Prime Minister thanked MPs and peers for rushing the Bill through Parliament in just one day so it could take effect at exactly 11pm this evening when the UK leaves the transition period.

FREEDOM

At 12.25am, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs that the European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020, had been granted royal assent by the Queen from Windsor Castle.

It enshrines in leglislation the trade agreement finally negotiated between London and Brussels last week following four years of wrangling since the referendum.

Shortly before Her Majesty gave the legislation her seal of approval, a bullish Mr Johnson marked out a new chapter for Britain, which first joined the bloc in 1973.

He said in a statement: 'I want to thank my fellow MPs and peers for passing this historic Bill and would like to express my gratitude to all of the staff here in Parliament and across Government who have made today possible.

'The destiny of this great country now resides firmly in our hands.

FREEDOM

'We take on this duty with a sense of purpose and with the interests of the British public at the heart of everything we do.

'11pm on December 31 marks a new beginning in our country's history and a new relationship with the EU as their biggest ally. This moment is finally upon us and now is the time to seize it.'

Brexit deal with EU becomes law as the Queen grants Royal Assent

Boris Johnson signs Brexit trade deal after parliamentary vote

Boris Johnson formally signed his Brexit trade deal with the EU this afternoon as he brought the curtain down on four years of wrangling over the UK's split from Brussels

Brexit done: MPs vote 521-73 in favour of a trade deal with EU

The Brexit trade agreement touched down at London City airport on an RAF flight this afternoon after being signed by EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen

MPs in the House of Commons voted in favour of the hard fought 1,200 page trade deal this afternoon by 521 votes to 73, a majority of 448

The Bill easily sailed through both chambers yesterday - MPs voted by 521 to 73 at third reading, while peers gave it an unopposed third reading late on Wednesday night.

Sir Keir Starmer branded it a 'thin deal' but whipped Labour MPs to vote with the Government, acknowledging it was the only alternative to a No Deal exit.

However in his New Year's message last night he struck an optimistic tone and, although making no direct reference to Brexit, said 'the country's best years are still to come' as the UK forges a 'new path' in the world.

MPs were still in the Commons chamber when Sir Lindsay informed the House of the Queen's royal assent early this morning.

Prompting cheers from Conservative MPs, he said: 'I have to notify the House, in accordance with the Royal Assent Act 1967, that Her Majesty signified her royal assent to the following Act: European Union (Future Relationship Act) 2020.'

An historic day at Westminster started in Number 10 when Mr Johnson signed a hard copy of the 1,200-page trade pact.

It had already been signed by Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, in Brussels before being flown to London on an RAF jet.

The PM then opened the Commons debate on his deal, urging an end to the 'rancour and recrimination' that have soured political life in recent years.

He said decades of tensions with the EU had been 'resolved' so Britain can be its closest friend, a free-trading power, and a 'liberal, outward-looking force for good'. He suggested far from trade being hit by leaving the single market and customs union it should mean 'even more' business being done.

'Having taken back control of our money, our borders, our laws and our waters by leaving the European Union on January 31, we now seize this moment to forge a fantastic new relationship with our European neighbours based on free trade and friendly co-operation,' Mr Johnson said.

'At the heart of this Bill is one of the biggest free trade agreements in the world.'

Boris Johnson hailed a 'new chapter' for the UK after Brexit today as his trade deal is crashed through Parliament

The PM said: 'We have done this in less than a year, in the teeth of a pandemic, and we have pressed ahead with this task, resisting all calls for delay, precisely because creating certainty about our future provides the best chance of beating Covid and bouncing back even more strongly next year.'

Mr Johnson went on: 'We will now open a new chapter in our national story, striking free trade deals around the world, adding to the agreements with 63 countries we have already achieved, and reasserting Global Britain as a liberal, outward-looking force for good.

'Those of us who campaigned for Britain to leave the EU never sought a rupture with our closest neighbours.

Mr Johnson said for the first time since 1973 the UK would be an independent coastal nation, stressing that in five and a half years' time after another transition Britain will have full control of its waters. 'Of course we would have liked to have done this more quickly,' he admitted.

Sir Keir urged his benches to support the historic trade pact, saying the argument is 'over' and the issue must not dominate the next general election.

But she said she had listened to Sir Keir's comments with 'incredulity'.

'Central to this deal the PM has said is the tariff free and quota free trade arrangements subject of course to rules of origin requirements. It would have been unforgiveable for the EU not to have allowed tariff free and quota free access given that they signed up to that in the political declaration signed with my Government in November 2018.

'One of the reasons for supporting this deal is the security arrangements that have been put in place which are very important.'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... d-law.html