Brexit: No 10 to push again for vote on Boris Johnson's deal

  • 2019-10-21 10:17:56
Parliament must be given "a straight up-and-down vote" on the PM's Brexit deal, No 10 says, after MPs delivered a major blow to his strategy on Saturday. Boris Johnson was forced by law to send a letter asking the EU for a new delay on Brexit, but did not sign it. The PM now wants MPs to say a clear "yes" or "no" to the deal on Monday, adding: "We cannot allow Parliament's letter to lead to Parliament's delay." It will be up to Speaker John Bercow to decide whether to allow the vote. Mr Johnson reached a new deal with the EU last week, but it needs to be approved by the UK Parliament. The deal ditches the backstop - the "insurance policy" designed to prevent a return to physical checks on the Irish border. Instead it will, in effect, draw a new customs border in the Irish Sea, because goods which could then travel onwards to Ireland will have to pay a duty tax. The whole of the UK will leave the EU customs union, meaning it could strike trade deals with other countries in the future. The EU is now considering how to respond to the UK's request for a delay, but has said Saturday's developments did not mean that the deal had been rejected. The UK is due to leave the EU in 10 days time.

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