The head of state’s ceremonial approval of the withdrawal legislation allows Britain to leave its closest neighbours and trading partners after years of bickering and three delays. “At times it felt like we would never cross the Brexit finish line, but we’ve done it,” Johnson said after both houses of the British parliament ratified the withdrawal bill on Wednesday. He quit former prime minister Theresa May’s government in 2018 in protest at what he viewed as her pro-European separation terms. Lawmakers barely debated the withdrawal agreement before passing it — even though critics called it worse for Britain than the one reached by May. Johnson will celebrate his victory by issuing commemorative coins and chairing a special cabinet meeting in England’s pro-Brexit north on January 31.

Source: Pakistan Today January 23, 2020 15:45 UTC