LONDON - The British parliament will vote
on Boris Johnson's deal to leave the European Union on Friday, a
move the prime minister described as delivering on his promise
to "get the Brexit vote wrapped up for Christmas" after his
landslide election victory.
After suffering several defeats in the previous parliament,
Johnson now enjoys a large majority and should face little
opposition in passing the bill to implement Britain's biggest
foreign and trade policy shift in more than 40 years.
More than three years since Britain voted to exit the EU in
a 2016 referendum, the deep uncertainty over Brexit has now been
replaced by the firm deadline of Jan. 31.
"This is the time when we move on and discard the old labels
of 'leave' and 'remain' ... now is the time to act together as
one reinvigorated nation, one United Kingdom," Johnson told
parliament before the vote, expected at about 1430 GMT.
"Now is the moment to come together and write a new and
exciting chapter in our national story, to forge a new
partnership with our European friends, to stand tall in the
world, to begin the healing for which the whole people of this
country yearn."
The final stages of ratification will take place after
Christmas, with the lower house of parliament having until Jan.
9 to approve the legislation, giving it just over three weeks to
then pass through the upper house and receive Royal Assent.
Johnson wants Friday's vote to show his intent and prove he
- unlike his predecessor Theresa May - can get his Brexit deal
passed by lawmakers.
TRADE TALKS TO COME
After leaving, Britain will need to secure new trading
arrangements with the EU - a future friendship, the prime
minister said, that would see the country agree a trade deal
with no alignment with the bloc's rules.
In a few changes to the so-called Withdrawal Agreement Bill,
Johnson seeks to make sure that there can be no legal chance of
extending those talks beyond the end of next year.
But while Johnson has the support of his 365 Conservative
lawmakers in the 650-seat parliament, some opposition lawmakers
criticised him for removing the opportunity for parliament to
have oversight over his negotiating priorities in the next phase
of talks, and for getting rid of workers' protections.
Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described it as
"terrible" and said his party would not be supporting the bill.
"This deal does not bring certainty for communities or for
business or for the workforce, in fact it does the opposite and
hardwires the risk of a no-deal Brexit next year," he said.
Just a week after he won the largest Conservative majority
since Margaret Thatcher in 1987, Johnson has set out an
ambitious government programme, with securing Brexit at the top
of his agenda to repay the trust of voters.
Hoping to satisfy the demands of voters in northern and
central England who broke their tradition of backing the
opposition Labour Party to support him, he has also pledged more
funding to the state health service, education and policing.
"Today we will deliver on the promise we made to the people
and get the Brexit vote wrapped up for Christmas," he said in
comments before the vote.
"Next year will be a great year for our country."