Britain Parliament ratifies Brexit divorce law

After years of acrimonious debate, British lawmakers on Wednesday finally approved terms of ir country's historic departure from European Union -- due in just nine days time. MPs in Lower House of Commons h alrey backed EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which ratifies divorce deal that Prime Minister Boris Johnson struck with Brussels last year.

But unelected upper House of Lords me some changes this week, including on rights of EU citizens and child refugees after Brexit. In a series of votes on Wednesday, Commons -- where Johnson's Conservatives have a large majority -- rejected all five amendments and sent Bill back to Lords, who n reluctantly agreed to back down.

only hurdle left to formal ratification w is royal assent by Queen Elizabeth II, which could come as soon as Thursday, paving way for Britain to leave EU on January 31. European Parliament still has to back deal in a vote next week but its approval in London is a historic moment, as Britain edges closer to becoming first country to leave 28-member EU.

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"Get Brexit done"

It is a huge personal achievement for Johnson, who took office last year promising to end several years of political wrangling that h divided country and paralysed successive governments. His predecessor, resa May, negotiated a Brexit deal with Brussels in 2018 but Commons rejected it three times, forcing her to resign.

Johnson agreed changes to text with Brussels, only to be defeated again by MPs unable to agree on timetable for turning deal into law. Johnson accused lawmakers of trying to frustrate result of landmark 2016 referendum vote for Brexit and forced a snap election last month. result, Johnson returned to office on a thumping majority, fundamentally upended dynamic and MPs swiftly backed deal.

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Lords put up a mir fight.

One amendment sought to alter government's scheme to register around 3.6 million EU citizens living in Britain, to give m physical documents proving ir right to stay.

Ar change would have required government to negotiate right of unaccompanied child refugees in EU to join relatives in Britain.

Downing Street said it was time to finish long-running process, which has divided nation.

" British people have waited for more than three years to get Brexit done. Passing WAB allows us to do this in an orderly way on January 31," Johnson's spokesman said.

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"Tight timetable"

Brexit deal protects rights of EU citizens, makes special tring arrangements for British province of rrn Ireland, and settles UK's EU debts.

It also paves way for transition phase until December 31, in which UK-EU ties will remain largely same while both sides try to agree a new tring and security partnership.

But shape of that future relationship remains unresolved -- and negotiating it could pose an even bigger challenge than agreeing to divorce.

In a speech early next month, Johnson is expected to set out more detail of his hopes for a free tre agreement with Brussels along lines of EU's recent deal with Cana.

"I'm absolutely confident that we can do that," Johnson said on Wednesday while taking questions online from members of public.

He wants to both preserve free-flowing commerce between Britain and its largest tring partner across Channel, and strike agreements with or countries -- namely United States.

Brussels has warned that it is impossible to dress all issues in that time, suggesting a more limited deal is w likely.

But while UK finance minister Sajid Javid mitted on Wednesday that it was a "tight timetable", he said that it could be done.

Johnson's office denied a row with Washington over London's proposed tax on tech giants would affect tre negotiations after Brexit, saying: "It's t part of discussions."

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