The Upper House of the UK Parliament, the House of Lords, has passed a bill that will force UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to request the European Union (EU) for an extension on the date of exit in the event that he is unable to strike a divorce agreement with the EU or a deal with his own warring parliament.
Under the bill, which will remain in draft form until the Queen gives it the Royal Assent, Johnson is mandated to personally request an extension of Article 50 from the President of the European Council, even specifying the language that he must use. Johnson faces legal action if he refuses to follow it to the letter.
Under the current set-up, the UK is poised to leave the EU without a deal on Halloween, October 31. The only trade deal to have been negotiated with the EU, the one formulated under Theresa May’s administration in November, 2018, has been defeated in the UK parliament on three occasions.
The EU has stuck to its stance that the negotiated Withdrawal Agreement cannot be reopened. In addition, Johnson has said that he would rather lie “dead in a ditch” than seek an extension from the EU.
The only way for a no-deal Brexit scenario to take place now would be if the UK parliament votes for a no-deal outcome, or if Johnson manages to convince parliament to vote on the deal in hand. A general election that restructures the House in Johnson’s favour, however, could result in a parliament that votes to scrap the bill.
Under the bill, Johnson would have to seek an extension of up to January 31, 2020. The EU could still offer a different deadline, which would give Johnson just two days to get his parliament to approve it.
