LONDON: British MPs gather Saturday for a historic vote on Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal – a decision that could see the UK leave the EU this month or plunge the country into fresh uncertainty. Defeat would trigger a law requiring him to ask EU leaders to delay Brexit for what would be the third time. Businesses and markets on both sides of the Channel fear a disorderly exit, and EU leaders have twice delayed Brexit already to avoid such an outcome. EU leaders in Brussels this week urged lawmakers to back the deal, to allow both sides to move on to discussing their future relationship. The most controversial element relates to arrangements to keep open the border between British Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland.

Source: New Strait Times October 19, 2019 02:48 UTC