Boris Johnson loses vote on Brexit legislation

LONDON: Boris Johnson’s mission to take the UK out of the EU in nine days’ time was derailed as members of parliament blocked his plan to rush the Brexit deal into law. The pound fell. The House of Commons voted 322 to 308 against Johnson’s proposed fast-track timetable for the Withdrawal Agreement Bill — the crucial piece of law to implement the deal he struck in Brussels last week.The defeat followed an initial victory for Johnson in gaining parliamentary support for the general principles of the deal he struck with the EU.
The defeat makes it now virtually impossible for Johnson to get his hard-won accord ratified in time to meet the current exit day deadline of Oct. 31, which has been his defining goal since he took over as prime minister from Theresa May in July. But taken together, the two votes potentially change the picture and move the UK away from the prospect of a no-deal Brexit, while also raising the chances of an extension to the deadline. Speaking in the Commons after the result was read out, Johnson announced that his draft Brexit law will now be paused. He promised to step up contingency planning for a nodeal Brexit and to consult with EU leaders and tell them he did not want another delay. But he added: “One way or another, we will leave the EU with this deal, to which this House has just given its assent.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Johnson said if parliament and the EU imposed a further delay, to the end of Jan 31 — which is now possible — he would ditch the bill entirely and press for a snap election, potentially before Christmas.