Europe urges UK MPs to back Brexit deal

BRUSSELS: European Union leaders endorsed a hard-fought Brexit deal with Britain, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces an uphill battle getting it through the British parliament.

“It looks like we are very close to the final stretch,” EU Council President Donald Tusk told reporters after the other 27 leaders approved the accord.

But despite optimism from Johnson, British opposition parties and some of the prime minister’s own allies in the House of Commons were quick to warn they would not support it when it goes to a vote in a special sitting on Saturday.

If the deal is defeated, the prime minister is legally obliged to ask EU leaders to postpone Brexit for a third time – breaking his vow to lead Britain out on Oct 31.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker warned such a rejection would create an ‘extremely complicated situation’, while Tusk said that if it happened he would consult member states on how to respond.

Johnson insisted he was ‘very confident’ MPs would back the deal, but the immediate response from the opposition and even partners in a supporting party were hostile.

Juncker sought to focus MPs’ minds, saying that Brussels can see no need for another delay to the painful divorce.

“We have a deal, and this deal means there is no need for any kind of prolongation,” he told reporters – although the decision will be for EU leaders.

Asked whether they had a message for the 48 per cent of British voters who backed staying in the EU in the June 2016 Brexit referendum, Juncker simply said: “I would like to say to the 48 that they were