Parliament rejects PM’s fast-tracked Brexit deal

LONDON — Brexit was once again thrown into chaos Tuesday after Parliament first voted to support Boris Johnson’s withdrawal deal in principle but then, minutes later, rejected his fasttrack timetable for passing the necessary legislation.

The yes-no result means Johnson likely won’t be able to deliver on his promise to get Britain out of the European Union by Oct. 31.

Whether Brexit will be postponed by days or weeks or months remained unclear.

In the House of Commons on Tuesday evening, lawmakers first signaled they did like Johnson’s new Brexit deal, more or less, even grudgingly, by a vote of 329-299.

That was a momentary victory for Johnson — the first time a British prime minister’s withdrawal plan has gotten a parliamentary nod, after repeated defeats in the House of Commons.

But then Parliament voted, 322308, against Johnson’s demand that lawmakers take only three days to read, scrutinize and amend the 110-page legislation.

“So now we face further uncertainty,” Johnson said after that vote.

Ominously, as a clear threat, the prime minister warned that his government would immediately step up preparations to leave the European Union without a deal at the end of October. But that could be a bluff. Johnson omitted any mention of an election in his remarks after the vote, though earlier in the day he suggested that rejecting his timetable would mean “with great regret the bill will have to be pulled and … we will have to go forward to a general election.”

Following the vote, he said he would “pause” further Brexit debate in Parliament and wait until the EU responds to Britain’s request for a delay.

Johnson was required by law Saturday to ask European leaders for an extension until the end of January.