The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Brexit focus turns to British Parliament after deal struck
European and British negotiators struck a deal Thursday on the terms of a Brexit withdrawal, raising the prospect that Britain could be out of the European Union by the end of the month.
European leaders meeting in Brussels gave the agreement a preliminary nod. The action now largely shifts back to London, where Prime Minister Boris Johnson will face the more significant challenge of getting parliamentary approval on Saturday.
“This deal represents a very good deal both for the EU and the U.K.,” Johnson said. He pressed British lawmakers to “get this excellent deal over the line.”
Johnson wants his fellow leaders in Brussels to rule out any further delays beyond the Oct. 31 Brexit deadline. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker was willing to grant that, with this deal in hand, “there’s no need for any kind of prolongation.” A draft of the statement they plan to issue makes no mention of an extension.
But EU leaders have no plans to go further than that. They watched British lawmakers reject the last withdrawal deal three times, and they fear a sudden break without a managed transition will result in economic chaos. If Parliament votes this deal down, too, the Europeans would almost certainly offer an extension.
“We didn’t negotiate an agreement with the idea it would be rejected by the British Parliament,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a news conference. “We haven’t focused on what will happen if the British Parliament doesn’t accept the withdrawal agreement.”
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, whose compromise with Johnson about the Irish border helped enable the deal, said, “We should give them the time and space to make a decision for themselves.”
But Johnson could face trouble from Parliament. Already, some hardcore Brexiteers are saying they will hold out against him, the Labour Party is opposed, and Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party is in rebellion.
“It is our view that these arrangements would not be in Northern Ireland’s long-term interests,” the Democratic Unionist Party said in a statement. “Saturday’s vote in Parliament on the proposals will only be the start of a long process to get any withdrawal agreement bill through the House of Commons.”
On Saturday, Johnson will seek a yes-or-no vote on the deal. Opposition lawmakers have indicated that they have other ideas. They are preparing to stage a series of votes on different amendments, including one that would require a public referendum.
Under the deal, Britain would leave the bloc but would continue to apply EU rules until the end of 2020. EU and British negotiators would try to hammer out a trade deal and other elements of their future relationship in the meantime. The transition period could be extended up to two years if both sides agree.