UK on track for Jan. 31 Brexit as PM Johnson wins vote on deal

By Elizabeth Piper and Kylie MacLellan

 

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson waves as he arrives at Downing Street after meeting with the Queen at the Buckingham Palace to ask for permission to form a government, in London, Britain, December 13, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Boris Johnson won approval for his Brexit deal in parliament on Friday, the first step towards fulfilling his election pledge to deliver Britain's departure from the European Union by Jan. 31 after his landslide victory.

 

Lawmakers voted by 358 to 234 to pass the second reading of the legislation, underlining Johnson's large majority in parliament that should ensure a smooth ratification of the divorce deal to implement Britain's biggest policy shift in more than 40 years.

 

More than three years since Britain voted to exit the EU in a 2016 referendum, the deep uncertainty over Brexit has now been replaced by a firm deadline of the end of January. Only after that will the prime minister face talks to secure a trade deal with the bloc and another target date of the end of next year.

 

Getting "the Brexit vote wrapped up for Christmas" was the main aim for Johnson showing that, unlike his predecessor Theresa May who was thwarted in parliament, he now has free rein to drive Brexit forward despite continued criticism from opposition lawmakers.

 

"This is the time when we move on and discard the old labels of 'leave' and 'remain' ... now is the time to act together as one reinvigorated nation, one United Kingdom," Johnson told parliament before the vote.

 

"Now is the moment to come together and write a new and exciting chapter in our national story, to forge a new partnership with our European friends, to stand tall in the world, to begin the healing for which the whole people of this country yearn."

 

The final stages of ratification will take place after Christmas, with the lower house of parliament having until Jan. 9 to approve the legislation, or Withdrawal Agreement Bill, giving it just over three weeks to then pass through the upper house and receive Royal Assent.

 

The European Commission said it was ready to take formal steps to adopt the deal on its side too.

 

TRADE TALKS TO COME

 

After leaving, Britain will need to secure new trading arrangements with the EU - which the prime minister said would see the country agree a trade deal with no alignment to the bloc's rules.

 

In a change to the bill, Johnson made it illegal to extend those talks beyond the end of next year.

 

European Council President Charles Michel said a level playing field on rules and standards "remains a must" for any future relationship.

 

While Johnson has the support of his 365 Conservative lawmakers in the 650-seat lower house, some opposition members criticised him for removing the opportunity for parliament to have oversight over his negotiating priorities in the next phase of talks, and for getting rid of workers' protections.

 

Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described it as "terrible".

 

"This deal does not bring certainty for communities or for business or for the workforce, in fact it does the opposite and hardwires the risk of a no-deal Brexit next year," he said.

 

Just a week after he won the largest Conservative majority since Margaret Thatcher in 1987, Johnson has set out an ambitious government programme, with securing Brexit at the top of his agenda to repay the trust of voters.

 

Hoping to satisfy the demands of voters in northern and central England who broke their tradition of backing the Labour Party to support him, he has also pledged more funding to the state health service, education and policing.

 

"Today we will deliver on the promise we made to the people and get the Brexit vote wrapped up for Christmas," he said in comments before the vote. "Next year will be a great year for our country."

 

(Additional reporting by William James; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Alex Richardson)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-12-21

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1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described it as "terrible".

 

must be good then

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

In a change to the bill, Johnson made it illegal to extend those talks beyond the end of next year.

And the EU along with many strategists have said that it's near impossible to fulfill a trade deal by the end of next year and would need to go into 2021 or even 2022 which means that we will almost certainly rely on WTO rules.  The drop in the pound to pre-election levels says it all.

Brexit uncertainty has been replaced with another 'cliff-hanger' at the end of 2020. 

Well they need to do some work then instead of just talking and spending the tax payers money

3 hours ago, HHTel said:

And the EU along with many strategists have said that it's near impossible to fulfill a trade deal by the end of next year and would need to go into 2021 or even 2022 which means that we will almost certainly rely on WTO rules.  The drop in the pound to pre-election levels says it all.

Brexit uncertainty has been replaced with another 'cliff-hanger' at the end of 2020. 

What made up trash are you talking about? Try following the exchange rates rather than making it up. Just about 39 baht to the £. The pound was as low as 37 baht and on BoJo election victory the pound rose to 40.85baht. What do so many people want the UK not to be a sovereign country? Why do you sit and pray for Britain to fail? 

7 hours ago, cyril sneer said:

must be good then

Unfortunately, it's more full of holes than Fanny Craddock's old collander. Let's just hope at least the worst of them get plugged at the Committee stage.

 

Otherwise, we could well end up doing a deal which will alienate not only the Scots and Northern Irish but also millions of traditional Labour supporters who switched sides to get Brexit done.

 

Failing to give ordinary working people the protection of EU employment laws in any new deal would be a betrayal of their trust and a shot in the arm for moribund Opposition. 

17 minutes ago, Scot123 said:

What made up trash are you talking about? Try following the exchange rates rather than making it up. Just about 39 baht to the £. The pound was as low as 37 baht and on BoJo election victory the pound rose to 40.85baht. What do so many people want the UK not to be a sovereign country? Why do you sit and pray for Britain to fail? 

 

Two words.... jealousy and fear. Jealous that they didnt get what they personally wanted while others did and fear they might be wrong. 

5 hours ago, HHTel said:

And the EU along with many strategists have said that it's near impossible to fulfill a trade deal by the end of next year and would need to go into 2021 or even 2022 which means that we will almost certainly rely on WTO rules.  The drop in the pound to pre-election levels says it all.

Brexit uncertainty has been replaced with another 'cliff-hanger' at the end of 2020. 

 

Just like the EU also said May's sham deal couldn't be renegotiated, extensions couldn't be given etc etc.

 

A No Deal hurts the EU too. Johnson is playing at strengthening his negotiating hand. He wants to stop the EU meandering about, waffling, and arguing every last little moot detail. 

 

If I were the EU leader, I'd seriously look at changing Barnier now. It requires someone with a "can do - will do" positive attitude. Not a French bureaucratic politician and Macron puppet.

1 hour ago, Krataiboy said:

Unfortunately, it's more full of holes than Fanny Craddock's old collander. Let's just hope at least the worst of them get plugged at the Committee stage.

 

Otherwise, we could well end up doing a deal which will alienate not only the Scots and Northern Irish but also millions of traditional Labour supporters who switched sides to get Brexit done.

 

Failing to give ordinary working people the protection of EU employment laws in any new deal would be a betrayal of their trust and a shot in the arm for moribund Opposition. 

 

There will be a large amount of work to transfer current EU laws into British laws. 

 

Why do you assume the employment protection laws will be watered down and which parts to you believe will be omitted?

1 minute ago, Baerboxer said:

 

There will be a large amount of work to transfer current EU laws into British laws. 

 

Why do you assume the employment protection laws will be watered down and which parts to you believe will be omitted?

If I remember correctly, it will only take the one comprehensive, all encompassing Bill to do the transfer and whatever is left out of that bill will automatically fall by the wayside when the Bill is enacted. That at least is my understanding.  

2 hours ago, Scot123 said:

What made up trash are you talking about? Try following the exchange rates rather than making it up. Just about 39 baht to the £. The pound was as low as 37 baht and on BoJo election victory the pound rose to 40.85baht. What do so many people want the UK not to be a sovereign country? Why do you sit and pray for Britain to fail? 

 

Banks forex forecasts that I read forecast the GBP USD e/r as follows:

 

No deal Brexit - 1.10

Boris's Deal Brexit - 1.45

Remain               - 1.55

 

Clearly, Remain is no off the table. But the financial markets clearly favor Boris's deal over No Deal; but of course TVF posters who slam it may know better 555!

 

The ThB weakened against the USD but has also strengthened again.

 

So a falling pound and increasing baht. Not all to do with Brexit.

2 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

If I remember correctly, it will only take the one comprehensive, all encompassing Bill to do the transfer and whatever is left out of that bill will automatically fall by the wayside when the Bill is enacted. That at least is my understanding.  

 

That's the plan, as I understand it too. Still are large amount of work creating that Bill. 

 

 

15 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

That's the plan, as I understand it too. Still are large amount of work creating that Bill. 

 

 

hopefully those next to useless senior Civil Servants can at least get that right, but I wouldn't count on it. 

2 hours ago, Scot123 said:

What made up trash are you talking about? Try following the exchange rates rather than making it up. Just about 39 baht to the £. The pound was as low as 37 baht and on BoJo election victory the pound rose to 40.85baht. What do so many people want the UK not to be a sovereign country? Why do you sit and pray for Britain to fail? 

Why English is so difficult  ? - you sit and pray for Britain to fail? HHTel simply expresses his worry, the EU + UK will NEVER succeed in such a short time to get all negociations finished. And it is the Boris-government, who made it IMPOSSIBLE to pass 31 Dec 2020, for .. also acc MY opinion - only ONE reason: he insists for a Hard Brexit.

I am not going to join in the lobbing of hand grenades from the side lines over Boris and his boys.  I will wait and see if he does deliver what he has promised.  We have lumbered ourselves with him as PM with a large majority and he now has free rein for the foreseeable future.  There is no point in churning over the reasons any more.  Let's see where we are in a years time.  I moved my business base to mainland Europe earlier this year and that is doing well.  My son has a bit longer to go with his education and then the world is his oyster!

 

  

20 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

There will be a large amount of work to transfer current EU laws into British laws. 

Nah, just a cut and paste job.

 

20 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

Why do you assume the employment protection laws will be watered down and which parts to you believe will be omitted?

I didn't assume anything. . . "we could end up" is what I wrote. Watch a re-run of the Commons debate and you will understand my (and others') migivings.

29 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

Just like the EU also said May's sham deal couldn't be renegotiated, extensions couldn't be given etc etc.

 

A No Deal hurts the EU too. Johnson is playing at strengthening his negotiating hand. He wants to stop the EU meandering about, waffling, and arguing every last little moot detail. 

 

If I were the EU leader, I'd seriously look at changing Barnier now. It requires someone with a "can do - will do" positive attitude. Not a French bureaucratic politician and Macron puppet.

Yes, a hard Brexit will hurt the EU also, but has also advantages: from day one, import duty according WTO rules brings in a lot more as the UK contribution to the EU. As many imports from the UK can be replaced, but EU export to the UK quite difficult, it is the UK to be harmed the most, being still one of the EU's trading partners. I beleive, the fallign away of British competition will benifit the EU as a whole, but some will suffer here.

2) When you would have followed ANYthing from the EU about Brexit and Mr Barrier, you should have known, Mr Barrier does noting else as fulfilling the "orders" of the 27 EU member states, as THAT is his mandate. That the British still think, negociation with the British Empire is "We give the orders, the others have to accept", but in reality the situiation is: prepare your files. When I see then Mr Barrier with a 500+ pages EU standpoint, and the UK's negociator with only a smile on his face, I know the end. Last-but-not-least: the British send someone, who's only skill is to get at least one vote more as his/her competitor in that barony, do not be astonished when the British fail completely.

4 minutes ago, Krataiboy said:

Nah, just a cut and paste job.

 

I didn't assume anything. . . "we could end up" is what I wrote. Watch a re-run of the Commons debate and you will understand my (and others') migivings.

Happy your supreme intelligence can solve that is a few days for the UK government.

6 minutes ago, Mick501 said:

So you genuinely believe that it's ok for someone who sprouts so much hatred against any person to also sit in judgment of them?

You posted on the wrong thread diddums. 

54 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

You posted on the wrong thread diddums. 

Oh, name calling and hate.  But what can be expected from left extremists I guess.

13 minutes ago, Mick501 said:

Oh, name calling and hate.  But what can be expected from left extremists I guess.

Bye. 

1 hour ago, puipuitom said:

Happy your supreme intelligence can solve that is a few days for the UK government.

Would you kindly mind putting that into English?

4 hours ago, Scot123 said:

What made up trash are you talking about? Try following the exchange rates rather than making it up. Just about 39 baht to the £. The pound was as low as 37 baht and on BoJo election victory the pound rose to 40.85baht. What do so many people want the UK not to be a sovereign country? Why do you sit and pray for Britain to fail? 

Oh for goodness sake!

In the run-up to the election it was running at around 39.

It shot up to 40.7 on news of a Tory majority from 39.47.

When Boris announced his plans to curtail the talks by the end of 2020, deal or not, it dropped losing it's gains.

And what is it now?.... 39.24!! Those are XE figures which are the most accepted. Check it out before accusing people of making things up!!

 

The last time it was 37 was at the beginning of October. Remember it was 42 when Theresa May announced her resignation which led to a fall.  It continued to fall after the election of Boris Johnson as leader of the Conservative Party.

 

Where on earth do I say or even speculate that I want Britain not to be a sovereignty?

 

Quote

Sovereignty is the power of a state to do everything necessary to govern itself, such as making, executing, and applying laws; imposing and collecting taxes; making war and peace; and forming treaties or engaging in commerce with foreign nations.

That is exactly what he should be doing.  Sovereignty certainly does not mean  'going it alone.' 

 

If you want to post sensibly then know what you're talking about first!

3 hours ago, Pilotman said:

If I remember correctly, it will only take the one comprehensive, all encompassing Bill to do the transfer and whatever is left out of that bill will automatically fall by the wayside when the Bill is enacted. That at least is my understanding.  

You are correct.  The EU Withdrawal Act was passed back in June 2018 and was passed to avoid any unpredictables.

22 minutes ago, HHTel said:

You are correct.  The EU Withdrawal Act was passed back in June 2018 and was passed to avoid any unpredictables.

But which Withdrawal Act?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_(Withdrawal)_Act_2018

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_(Withdrawal)_(No._2)_Act_2019

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/16/contents/enacted

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/16/contents/enacted

 

There are a lot more where that came from when I did what I thought was just a simple search.

 

No wonder people get confused.

4 minutes ago, billd766 said:

But which Withdrawal Act?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_(Withdrawal)_Act_2018

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_(Withdrawal)_(No._2)_Act_2019

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/16/contents/enacted

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/16/contents/enacted

 

There are a lot more where that came from when I did what I thought was just a simple search.

 

No wonder people get confused.

The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (c. 16)  

That's the one that will be used to bring EU law into UK law.  It also allows for the repeal of the EU Communities Act 1972.

 Not to be confused with European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2019 or European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019.

 

 

5 hours ago, Krataiboy said:

Nah, just a cut and paste job.

Maybe your indefinite whisdom also can explain why it lasted YEARS till the British finally accepted other places of embarcation to the Eurostar line except only Brussels ?  ( Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp ). With a no-deal Brexit this is gone again per 1 Jan 2021 see  https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/customs-agreement-reached-for-amsterdam-london-eurostar-services/

8 hours ago, Scot123 said:

What made up trash are you talking about? Try following the exchange rates rather than making it up. Just about 39 baht to the £. The pound was as low as 37 baht and on BoJo election victory the pound rose to 40.85baht. What do so many people want the UK not to be a sovereign country? Why do you sit and pray for Britain to fail? 

Probably because they emigrated to los when it was 75 baht-£1 burnt their bridges in the uk and can,t afford to teturn.

6 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

There will be a large amount of work to transfer current EU laws into British laws. 

 

Why do you assume the employment protection laws will be watered down and which parts to you believe will be omitted?

Employment laws? Do you mean the bogus self employed status to get round paying the minimum,sick and holiday pay,the zero hour contracts,and the gig economy.?

57 minutes ago, puipuitom said:

Maybe your indefinite whisdom also can explain why it lasted YEARS till the British finally accepted other places of embarcation to the Eurostar line except only Brussels ?  ( Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp ). With a no-deal Brexit this is gone again per 1 Jan 2021 see  https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/customs-agreement-reached-for-amsterdam-london-eurostar-services/

Unfortunately I can't, as nobody had the wisdom to appoint me as a negotiator.