The British Conservative government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson has continued the process to get legislation for leaving the EU approved in the House of Commons. British MPs gave the green light for further consideration with 358 votes in favor and 234 against.
This means that Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government can now proceed. It also signifies that an important step has been taken. The legislation must go through multiple stages in Parliament. The entire law must be passed no later than January 9. Johnson wants the United Kingdom to formally leave the European Union by the end of next month (in 42 days).
Prime Minister Boris Johnson significantly amended the bill prior to the first sitting of the new Parliament. Various compromises that Johnson had added earlier this year to accommodate opposition parties have been removed by the Prime Minister.
In the new version, Johnson has removed the option to extend the transition period. If no trade agreement is reached with the European Union by the end of 2020, then the United Kingdom will leave regardless and a chaotic breakup still threatens. According to sources in Downing Street, Johnson is aiming for a trade agreement similar to that between the EU and Canada, which focuses only on goods and not on services.