Britain's parliament has passed the legislation necessary to take it out of the European Union next week after House of Lords abandoned attempts to amend it.
The upper chamber approved the Brexit bill after the House of Commons overturned changes made by the Lords a day earlier.
Barring the formality of royal assent, this completes the legal steps to put the negotiated divorce deal into effect in the UK.
Securing the bill was never in doubt following the Conservatives’ resounding election victory in December. But it was nonetheless a highly symbolic moment, especially in the wake of last year’ parliamentary paralysis that saw former Prime Minister Theresa May’s deal repeatedly rejected by MPs.
Also deprived of a majority, her successor hit obstacles too in the House of Commons until the game-changing election. On Wednesday Boris Johnson reacted with relief.
“At times it felt like we would never cross the Brexit finish line, but we’ve done it,” he said.
The divorce agreement renegotiated by Johnson’s government with Brussels, and approved by EU national leaders, also needs to be ratified by the European Parliament. MEPs are due to debate and vote on the deal next week (January 29) and are expected to pass it.
The UK is due to leave the EU on January 31. Once passed, the terms of the withdrawal deal – on the UK’s financial obligations, citizens’ rights, and arrangements for Northern Ireland – will have the force of an international treaty.
A post-Brexit transition phase will then kick in, keeping arrangements largely the same until it expires at the end of 2020. During this time the UK and the EU will embark on negotiations on future relations, with only a few months to strike new relationships for trade, security and several other areas.
The withdrawal agreement bill has been given Royal Assent, meaning it has become law and the UK will officially leave the EU on January 31st, 2020.
Deputy speaker Nigel Evans read out in the House of Commons on Thursday: “I have to announce to the House in accordance with the Royal Assent Act 1967 that Her Majesty has signified her Royal Assent to the following act: European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020,” meaning the bill has officially been signed into law.
The Brexit Act has been given Royal Assent.We’re leaving 🇺 next Friday. pic.twitter.com/FcAkWrTwNp— Department for Exiting the EU (@DExEUgov) January 23, 2020
In a brief comment after the bill passed, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Parliament has passed the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, meaning we will leave the EU on 31 January and move forwards as one United Kingdom.
–What happens next?–
In the next few days, the bill will gain Royal Assent from The Queen, officially making it a law.
The European Parliament will meet on January 29th to debate the withdrawal agreement; however, that is expected to be a formality and the deal should be agreed that day.
Charles Michel, president of the European Council comprised of the EU-27 heads of government, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to sign the document within the next few days. Prime Minister Johnson will also sign the document on behalf of the British government.
The UK will leave the EU as Mr Johnson pledged on January 31st.
The UK will then move into an 11-month transition period, where the country will remain subject to the EU’s Customs Union and Single Market rules, as well as the free movement regime, while London and Brussels thrash out a future trade deal. There can be no extension of the transition period, as that provision was ruled out in a clause of the withdrawal agreement bill. If there is no deal agreed by December 31st, 2020, the UK will simply trade with the EU on World Trade Organization (WTO) terms.
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