The Sunday Guardian

Nobody knows what’s in store for UK

- ANTONIA FILMER LONDON

There are endless metaphors, none of them flattering, for the state of UK’S paralysed parliament and Brexit negotiatio­ns, but the fact is nobody knows what comes next. Everything depends on something else.

Boris Johnson’s Withdrawal Agreement Bill passed second time around in the Commons by 30 votes; it can be said in Johnson’s favour that he has got it further than Theresa May’s withdrawal agreements. But its acceptance in some way disqualifi­es the concept of no deal. As usual it was one step forward and two steps back because a majority of MP’S rejected the government’s implementa­tion timetable. The reason given is the need for more time for scrutiny and debate, but in reality this blocks Johnson promised 31st October Brexit day.

All the recently discovered rules and procedural obstructio­ns that have prevented Brexit, or Bregsit as it is so frequently pronounced, seem like an orchestrat­ed effort to remain permanentl­y in the EU.

Briefly the Prime Minister said he would withdraw the

Bill and legislatio­n. Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn held discussion­s. Both want a general election, but they cannot agree on the timing. Is it the chicken (election) or the egg (extension) first?

Johnson is offering MPS more time for scrutiny until 6 November if Labour passes his motion for an election on 12 December; some Conservati­ve MPS are lukewarm about a winter election just before Christmas.

Since the Benn Act required Johnson to request an extension, which was unconventi­onally executed by sending three contradict­ory letters, Johnson has now been forced to accept the possibilit­y of an extension. The EU27 have now offered this third extension but without any length of time indication until next week, when they know if there will be an election or not. The Government say they will repeat the motion for an election every day until an election is called.

The choice for MP’S boils down to stick with Johnson and “Get Brexit done” or risk Corbyn who would dither around trying to reopen negotiatio­ns, extend the extension and then have a peoples/confirmato­ry vote, this would feel like a life sentence to most Leavers.

This week Johnson topped the Yougov voting intention tracker for Prime Minister versus Jeremy Corbyn by 43% -20%, and Conservati­ves beat Labour 37%-22%. Johnson needs a decent majority to remain in No10 for the next five years, when Brexit is accomplish­ed Remain and Leave become irrelevant and parliament can get on with delivering the work outlined in The Queens Speech/prime Minister’s future agenda which was passed by 16 votes on Thursday.

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