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DPA
London
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit legislation completed its passage through parliament on Wednesday, paving the way for Britain to begin the formal withdrawal from the EU on January 31.
Parliament’s unelected upper house, the Lords, approved the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill after its five earlier amendments were rejected by the main elected house, the Commons.
The legislation is expected to receive royal assent, a formality of approval by Queen Elizabeth II, in the next few days before it is enacted.
Johnson has vowed to negotiate negotiate new free-trade arrangements with Brussels by December 31, ruling out any extension, but EU officials have dismissed his timetable as unrealistic.
Johnson has refused to rule out Britain leaving the bloc without a deal on future relations, after 47 years as a member of the bloc, if negotiations cannot be completed by the end of the year.
The five amendments proposed by the Lords included plans to give EU citizens hard copies of immigration documents, instead of just digital copies, and protect unaccompanied child refugees.
“It is bitterly disappointing that after a victory in the Lords the government have voted down my amendment in the Commons,” tweeted Alf Dubs, an opposition Labour member of the Lords.
London
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit legislation completed its passage through parliament on Wednesday, paving the way for Britain to begin the formal withdrawal from the EU on January 31.
Parliament’s unelected upper house, the Lords, approved the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill after its five earlier amendments were rejected by the main elected house, the Commons.
The legislation is expected to receive royal assent, a formality of approval by Queen Elizabeth II, in the next few days before it is enacted.
Johnson has vowed to negotiate negotiate new free-trade arrangements with Brussels by December 31, ruling out any extension, but EU officials have dismissed his timetable as unrealistic.
Johnson has refused to rule out Britain leaving the bloc without a deal on future relations, after 47 years as a member of the bloc, if negotiations cannot be completed by the end of the year.
The five amendments proposed by the Lords included plans to give EU citizens hard copies of immigration documents, instead of just digital copies, and protect unaccompanied child refugees.
“It is bitterly disappointing that after a victory in the Lords the government have voted down my amendment in the Commons,” tweeted Alf Dubs, an opposition Labour member of the Lords.
