SNAPSHOTS

U.K.: Parliament Makes a Brexit Delay More Likely

Oct 22, 2019 | 21:50 GMT

(Stratfor)

The Big Picture

The United Kingdom is scheduled to leave the European Union on Oct. 31, but recent defeats in Parliament have forced the British government to ask Brussels to delay its exit. While the European Union has yet to make a formal decision, it is likely to authorize an extension, even if the exact duration will be subject to negotiation between London and Brussels.

An Oct. 22 vote in the British House of Commons means an orderly Brexit will probably not occur on the Oct. 31 deadline, but it also means that a no-deal Brexit is unlikely. Parliament rejected Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plan to fast-track the approval of the withdrawal agreement bill, a package of legislation that would have implemented the terms of the Brexit deal that London reached with Brussels last week. The government had sought to have the House of Commons approve the bill by Oct. 25, which would have increased the chances of Johnson honoring his promise of taking the United Kingdom out of the European Union on Oct. 31. Johnson must now decide between a short extension to try to seal his Brexit deal and a longer extension plus a general election....

Subscribe to view this article

Subscribe Now

Subscribe

Already have an account?