This archive report was first published on 21 October 2019.
On Monday, October 21, 2019, UK Parliament Speaker John Bercow blocked a vote on Boris Johnson's new Brexit divorce deal, dealing a significant blow to the British prime minister's plans.
However, the decision does not kill the deal, which could still be passed later in the week, potentially allowing Britain to leave the EU in an orderly fashion on October 31.
According to legislation passed last month, unless MPs backed a Brexit deal by October 19, Johnson was required to write to EU leaders asking for a Brexit delay until January 2020. The prime minister sent the letter, and EU leaders were considering their response on Monday.
Johnson hopes that they will rule out an extension or offer only a 'technical' delay to allow parliament time to pass the legislation should the deal be approved. He appears to have an ally in President Emmanuel Macron, with a French government spokeswoman saying on Monday that a delay was 'in nobody's interest.'
However, German leader Angela Merkel seems more amenable to a longer extension, with reports suggesting that they could agree to a final delay until February.
Even if the EU agrees to an extension, Johnson could still get Britain out on October 31 by swiftly ratifying his Brexit deal. Several of those who backed Saturday's amendment say they would support Johnson's bill, once the threat of a 'no deal' is removed.
But there is a risk the bill is hijacked by anti-Brexit MPs, for example to make approval subject to a new EU referendum. Timing could also be an issue, with legislation of this type normally taking months but the Houses of Commons and Lords having less than two weeks to pass it.
