UK lawmakers upend Johnson’s Brexit plan
LONDON — Prime Minister Boris Johnson suffered a humiliating defeat Saturday as Parliament rebuffed his campaign to take Britain out of the European Union by the end of the month and forced him to seek an extension that he had vowed never to pursue.
The turbulent events left Johnson’s agreement in limbo and threw British politics once again into chaos, with any number of outcomes possible: a no-deal exit from the EU, a second referendum on whether to leave at all, or a general election that could shift the balance in Parliament. The only sure result was continuing frustration and confusion among the British public.
Late Saturday night, Johnson formally applied to the EU, in an unsigned letter, for another extension of Britain’s departure, something he said he would rather be “dead in a ditch” than do. Johnson sent a separate signed letter to the president of the European council, Donald Tusk, saying that “a further extension would damage the interests of the U.K. and our EU partners, and the relationship between us.”
On a dramatic day in which lawmakers debated while enormous crowds of anti-Brexit protesters marched outside Parliament, Johnson implored lawmakers to approve his agreement, which would pave the way for Britain to leave the EU at the end of the month.
The prime minister argued that it was the best deal Britain could hope to strike — one that, in his telling, would position the country for a thriving future as an agile free agent in the global economy — and that any further delay would be “pointless, expensive and deeply corrosive of public trust.”
Instead, by a vote of 322-306, lawmakers passed a last-minute amendment, brought by Oliver Letwin, an expelled member of Johnson’s Conservative Party, that would delay final approval on the agreement until after Parliament
passes the detailed legislation to enact it.
A defiant Johnson said he would push for another vote on his agreement early next week. But that could present opponents with an opportunity to try to amend his plan.
“I’m not daunted or dismayed by this particular result,” Johnson said.
Johnson’s deal differs from those of his predecessor, Theresa May, primarily in its treatment of Northern Ireland. Needing to avoid physical border checks, May opted to keep the entire United Kingdom in the EU’s customs union, which was unacceptable to hard-line Brexiteers. Johnson sought to satisfy them by keeping Northern Ireland subject to the bloc’s rules in a practical sense, but legally outside it with the rest of Britain.
His deal commits the country to little alignment with the bloc on trade or regulations, turning its back on much of the web of rules that critics in Britain consider stifling or a threat to their sovereignty.
Johnson and his lieutenants contend Britain can set out to transform itself into an agile, lightly regulated competitor in the global economy.
To do that, however, Britain must first negotiate new trade agreements with dozens of parties, including the EU and the United States, a painstaking process that could take several years.
As lawmakers huddled inside the House of Commons, hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered outside the Palace of Westminster to demand that voters be given the final say on Brexit.
Organizers said the protests drew about 1 million people, which would make it one of the largest demonstrations in British history.
The stated desire of the marchers was to call for a second referendum on any Brexit deal that lawmakers approve, but most had a more basic goal.
“No Brexit” was the chant that echoed through the stately streets and grand avenues of the city on a crisp and sunny autumn afternoon.
“This is a last-ditch attempt to get them to hear our voices,” said Ollie Lloyd, 42, who was among those protesting.
“This is about what kind of country we want to be,” he said. “Do we want to be an open and tolerant country,” or one that is closed off and inward looking?
In a referendum three years ago, British voters narrowly supported leaving the European Union, which it had joined in 1973.
Since then, the divisions in the country have grown along with feelings of frustration, confusion, sadness and despair.
And public anger.
“The whole thing was sold on a lot of lies,” said Dorothy Milosevic, 63. “Since that morning when we woke up to find that the leavers had won, it is has been gloom and despondency.”