Stop No Deal Brexit Bill Explained
Published / Last Updated on 04/09/2019
A Bill to prevent Government leaving the EU with or without a deal by 31/10/2019 has been passed by Parliament. With House of Lords approval this will pass to the Queen for Royal Assent and become law. What does it mean for the future of Brexit?
As Boris Johnston no longer has a majority, it is MPs i.e. Parliament and not the Government that now controls Parliament.
The Bill requires Boris to return to the EU and ask for an extension to Brexit deadline to 31/01/2020.
EU leaders summit is on 17/10/2019. In the Bill it then requires Boris to refer any ‘new’ deal or any other alternative Brexit extension date back to Parliament for approval or not within 2 days.
This take us past Boris’s target 15/10/2019 for a General Election.
In short, with the House of Lords likely to pass the Bill (with amendments) by tomorrow (Friday 06/09/19), it can then pass for Royal Assent and become law.
Boris has now been blocked from leaving the EU on 31/10/19 deal or no deal.
Labour have said that with Royal Assent above, they will agree to a General Election. This is likely to be after 31/10/2019.
This does mean a ‘No Deal’ Brexit is off the agenda, it means a no deal Brexit is off the agenda on 31/10/2019.
It appears the choice in a General election will be ...
For England this really means:
- Conservative (hard line) – Brexit ideally with a deal but no deal if necessary
- Labour (softer line) – Brexit with a deal
- Liberal (hard line) – Stop Brexit totally and remain in EU
For Scotland/Northern Ireland we already know the Electorate want to remain – so SNP/Liberals could combine to form an alliance.
In Wales, many voted to leave, but it is unclear in such a Labour stronghold, whether voters will stay with Labour or switch to the Brexit party as an alternative to not voting conservative.
Brexit Party – has already suggested it will not stand against strong Conservative seats that also had a ‘leave’ vote in the referendum. Brexit Party will stand and fight Liberal and Labour seats that had a string leave result, for voters who would normally vote Labour/Liberal but will not now due to their weaker or no Brexit stance. These key seats still want Brexit but won’t vote Conservative on principle, hence the Brexit Party standing.
