Richard Branson on Brexit: 'saddest event for UK since World War II'

Virgin Group founder Richard Branson has said that Brexit is the saddest thing that has happened to Britain and Europe since World War II. The British entrepreneur while inaugurating new Virgin Atlantic services in Israel said that British voters were misled before the 2016 referendum and would now vote to stay in Europe if given another chance. He added, "I would certainly recommend that that's how they should vote."

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Fast-track of Brexit bill blocked

British lawmakers have blocked Britain Prime Minister Boris Johnson's attempt on Tuesday to fast-track his Brexit bill through Parliament so that the U.K. can leave the bloc as scheduled on October 31. Britain is now awaiting a decision from Brussels about whether the bloc will delay the UK's scheduled departure to prevent a chaotic no-deal exit in just eight days. Now it is up to the court in the European Union which must decide whether to agree to postpone the UK's departure for the third time.

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Johnson threatens to withdraw Bill

“I don’t think the people of this country want a delay. I don’t want a delay,” Johnson said. He has threatened that he could pull the bill and try to get lawmakers to vote for a general election that could break the political impasse if the EU further extends the Brexit deadline which is more likely. According to the Chief spokesperson of the European Commission, they have taken note of the Parliament's proceedings in Britain and the European Council's President, Donald Tusk is in touch with EU leaders to shift the deadline to January 31, 2020. Johnson while addressing the MPs stated, "I will in no way allow months more of this. If Parliament refuses to allow Brexit to happen and instead... decides to delay everything until January, or possibly longer, in no circumstances then [can] the government continue with this. And with great regret, I must say that the Bill will have to be pulled and we will have to go forward to a general election and I will argue at that election, let's get Brexit done.”

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(With AP inputs)