SO, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

BORIS Johnson’s dream of leaving the EU on Halloween with a Brexit deal has been dealt a serious blow, and he has told MPs he will now “pause” the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB).

So, what does this mean and what happens now?

What is the WAB?

The WAB is the Government’s Brexit Bill, the legislation needed for Brexit, which would implement the new deal agreed with the EU in UK law.

Do MPs support it?

MPs voted by 329 votes to 299, majority 30, to approve the Bill in principle, the first time the Commons has been prepared to back any Brexit deal put before it.

That sounds like progress. Will the WAB now move to the next stage of the parliamentary process?

No. Because even though MPs voted in favour of the Bill, they voted by 322 to 308 to reject Mr Johnson’s plan to take the legislation through the Commons in just three days. Mr Johnson told MPs he would “pause” the WAB until the EU takes a decision on whether to grant another Brexit delay.

How did the EU react to the development?

A spokeswoman for European Commission said they have taken note of Tuesday night’s result and “expects the UK government to inform us about the next steps”. European Council President Donald Tusk later said he will recommend the EU accept the UK’s request for a Brexit extension.

Do MPs just want more time to study the WAB?

There is a desire for more time to scrutinise the legislation, yes. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has offered to work with the Government to agree a “reasonable timetable” for the WAB.

■ Will there be a general election?

All the main party leaders have said they want one but they wanted to make sure Mr Johnson would not carry out a no-deal Brexit on October 31.

The opposition has insisted it wants to ensure a Brexit extension before agreeing to a poll.

Mr Corbyn has said they have to be “absolutely clear” that there will be an extension and no crashing out of the EU.

How could the Government call an election?

The Government could table a motion under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, but this would require a two thirds majority. Or, they could table a one-line Bill.