BORIS Johnson has “paused” his Brexit deal after MPs rejected his push to have the legislation rushed through the Commons in just three days.
The SNP’s Ian Blackford said the Prime Minister had “suffered another humiliating defeat” and urged him to go to Brussels and seek a “meaningful” extension to the negotiation process.
Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn offered to work with Johnson to try and “agree a reasonable timetable”.
However, it wasn’t a complete loss for Johnson, as MPs backed his Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) in principle, by 329 votes to 299, the first time Parliament has backed any Brexit deal.
Nineteen Labour rebels helped get the bill over the line.
READ MORE: Europe must not collude with the UK Government in Brexit ‘deal’ deception
The programme motion that would have set out the fast-track timetable for the legislation was defeated by just 14, thanks in part to the DUP MPs who nominally prop up Johnson’s administration voting against him.
That means it’s now all but impossible for Johnson to meet the “do or die” Brexit deadline of October 31.
They’re furious that the Tory leader’s deal effectively puts the UK’s cutsoms border with the EU down the middle of the Irish sea.
The Prime Minister told MPs: “Can I say in response how welcome it is, even joyful, that for the first time in this long saga, this House has actually accepted its responsibilities together, come together, and embraced a deal?
“I congratulate honourable members across the House on the scale of our collective achievement because, just a few weeks ago, hardly anybody believed that we could reopen the withdrawal agreement, let alone abolish the backstop, that is indeed what they were saying.
“And certainly nobody thought we could secure the approval of the House for a new deal and we should not overlook the significance of this moment.”
He said the legislation would be halted until he had spoken to European leaders, but he insisted that “one way or another” the UK would “leave the EU with this deal to which this House has just given its assent.”
READ MORE: Labour MP left looking foolish after admitting he had not read the Brexit deal
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister had told MPs he would have to “pull” the Bill and seek a General Election if the programme motion was defeated and Brussels granted an extension.
There were reports last night that the EU was likely to accept the request for a January 31, 2020 extension, as outlined in the Benn Act.
Speaker John Bercow later informed MPs that the decision to pause the Bill meant that it was technically, in parliamentary terms, in “limbo”.
Replying to Johnson, Blackford said: “The facts of the matter are this is yet another humiliating defeat for the Prime Minister this evening who has sought to railroad through this House legislation that requires proper scrutiny.
“Furthermore, it is absolutely clear what must now happen, because there is legislation passed by this House, it is the law of the land. On the basis of not agreeing a deal, that the Prime Minister is instructed – instructed, Prime Minister – to seek an extension.”
Corbyn urged the Tory leader to simply give the Commons more time to go through the legislation.
He told MPs: “On Saturday, this House emphatically rejected the prime minister’s deal. Tonight, the House has refused to be bounced into debating a hugely significant piece of legislation in just two days with barely any notice and analysis of the economic impact of this bill.
“The Prime Minister is the author of his own misfortune. So I make this offer to him tonight: work with us, all of us, to agree a reasonable timetable.
“I suspect this House will vote to debate, scrutinise and, I hope, commend the detail of this bill. That would be the sensible way forward, and that is the offer I make on behalf of the opposition tonight.”
Earlier in the day Donald Tusk, who is consulting with EU leaders over the delay, said that a requested extension to Article 50 would be treated with “all seriousness”.
“We should be ready for every scenario. But one thing must be clear: as I said to Prime Minister Johnson on Saturday, a No-Deal Brexit will never be our decision.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel