Brexit: Johnson pauses legislation after his timetable is rejected

The Prime Minister of Britain Borish Johnson says he will “pause” the government’s planned Brexit legislation after lawmakers voted to reject his fast-track timetable. The British Prime Minister told the Parliament on Tuesday that the government will accelerate plans for a “no-deal” Brexit in light of the defeat, which derailed his plans. The British PM reprimanded the Parliament for ‘voting to delay” Brexit once again. The national referendum approving the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union (EU)  was held in 2016. It is expected to happen by October 31. 

READ | EU Did 'all In Our Power' To Ensure Orderly Brexit, Says Juncker

'Make up its mind'

Boris Johnson said he will consult with leaders of the EU and urged the EU to “make up its mind” about the UK’s request for a possible delay of the UK’s withdrawal from the Union. The British PM did not reply to an offer from Labour opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn to allow the hefty Brexit bill to be debated at a slower pace than the government’s fast-track plan. British lawmakers have rejected the government’s fast-track attempt to pass its Brexit bill within days.

Legislators voted 322-308 against a timetable that gave the House of Commons just three days to debate the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill. The vote likely makes it impossible for Johnson to fulfil his vow to take Britain out of the EU on the scheduled date of Oct. 31. The outcome meant lawmakers want more time to scrutinize the complex legislation.

READ | UK PM Publishes Brexit Withdrawal Bill Ahead Of Parliament Session

Johnson now has two choices

That throws Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s exit timetable into chaos. Johnson now has two choices. He could agree to give lawmakers more time, which would need a delay to Brexit of at least a few weeks. Or, as he has threatened, he could pull the bill and try to get lawmakers to vote for a general election that could break the political impasse. In both cases, the EU must agree to delay Britain’s departure.

READ | Boris Johnson Wants Brexit Deadline Of Oct 31, Despite Delay Request

An orderly divorce

The European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker addressed the European Parliament before stepping down from his post after the end of his tenure on October 22 and said that the EU did “all in our power” to ensure an orderly divorce of Britain from the 28-nation bloc. Currently, the bloc is awaiting the British Parliament's decision on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Withdrawl Bill and the approval of the new deal. Juncker also expressed regret for utilising most of his last five-years in the mandate to Brexit. However, he further said that at least they had done everything in their power for an orderly departure and now EU is required to watch the events in Westminster “very closely”.

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(INPUTS FROM AP)