‘It’s up to EU to decide’

JOHNSON: DISAPPOINTED THE HOUSE HAS YET AGAIN VOTED FOR DELAY

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said yesterday it was up to the EU to decide whether it wanted to delay Brexit and for how long, after a defeat in parliament made ratification of his deal by the October 31 deadline almost impossible.

As the clock ticks down to the deadline for Britain’s departure, Brexit is hanging in the balance as a divided parliament debates when, how and even whether it should happen.

In another day of Brexit drama yesterday, lawmakers handed Johnson his first major parliamentary victory by signalling their support for his deal in an early legislative hurdle.

But minutes later parliament defeated him on his timetable to rush the legislation through the House of Commons in just three days. Lawmakers voted 329 to 299 in favour of the second reading of the legislation for the deal – still no guarantee of success since the bill could be amended by lawmakers who want changes.

They then voted 322 to 308 against Johnson’s extremely tight timetable, which the government has repeatedly said is necessary to reach his target of leaving on October 31. “I must express my disappointment that the House has yet again voted for delay,” Johnson told parliament.

The next step, he said, would be waiting for the EU to respond to a request to delay the October 31 Brexit date, which Johnson reluctantly sent to Brussels on Saturday after being forced to do so by lawmakers.