Vote clears the way to proper scrutiny

THE rejection of Boris Johnson’s attempt to railroad his Brexit deal through Parliament without proper scrutiny and without publication of an impact assessment is a victory for common sense.

A majority of MPs took the responsible course and decided that the UK Government’s proposed timetable for the Withdrawal Agreement Bill was an abuse of process.

It is clear that not enough time remains for a definitive decision on the deal to be taken before the deadline of October 31. Responsibility for that lies not with Parliament as a whole, but with Mr Johnson, who has done everything he could think of to while away the Article 50 extension period granted to his predecessor Theresa May.

With the twists and turns of the Brexit drama unfolding on live TV, it is easy to forget that the outcome will have an impact on Wales and the UK as a whole for many years to come.

Those who demand the swiftest possible conclusion to these events are showing no regard for the impact bad decisions will have on the economy and on the lifechances of millions.

The fact that Chancellor Sajid Javid has refused to publish any impact assessment of the proposed deal suggests very strongly that it would not assist the Government’s case.

How many reputable economists are, after all, prepared to argue that leaving the single market and the customs union would make us more prosperous? We all know the answer to that.

With the October 31 deadline impossible to meet, Mr Johnson continues to have a legal responsibility to argue for a further extension to Article 50. He must be made to discharge that duty.

We hope the EU will continue to bear with the UK as Parliament considers how to take matters forward.

No sensible politician could believe that leaving the EU without scrutinising the Bill and reading the impact assessment of it is the right course of action. Some of those who voted with Mr Johnson did so not because they believe in his deal, but because they fear for their careers. Others wanted the opportunity to support amendments that Mr Johnson himself may not be able to swallow.

As we have consistently argued, the most democratic way of settling Brexit would be to hold a fresh referendum. Last night’s events have not, we believe, diminished the power of that argument.