Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s faces a potentially perilous ratification of his Brexit divorce deal in the British Parliament after the Speaker refused to allow a vote on it on Monday. House of Commons Speaker John Bercow said a vote should not be allowed on Monday as the same issue had been discussed on Saturday when opponents turned Mr. Johnson’s big Brexit day into a humiliation. “A further extension would damage the interests of the UK and our EU partners, and the relationship between us,” Mr. Johnson said his own letter, signed “Boris Johnson”. If Mr. Bercow, who said on Saturday he was blindsided by the government’s debate proposal, does not allow it then the government will have to try to push on with the legislation needed for ratification of Mr. Johnson’s deal. If Johnson’s deal is scuppered just days before the United Kingdom’s planned departure, it would leave Johnson a choice: try to leave without a deal or accept a delay.

Source: The Hindu October 21, 2019 15:05 UTC