The British Parliament is postponing the vote on the EU-UK Brexit agreement reached this week in Brussels. As a result, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will have to request a new extension from the EU, but he has already said he will not do so. He intends to try to submit the necessary legislative proposals next Tuesday so that the United Kingdom can leave the EU by October 31.
The House of Commons wants to first legally secure all Brexit agreements so that the British government can no longer make any amendments later. The politicians also want to prevent new elections in the near future and the possibility that a new British government could subsequently reverse the Brexit arrangement.
With their amendment on the votes, the British MPs dealt a heavy blow at the last moment to Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal. The MPs decided by 322 to 306 votes to support the amendment submitted by former Prime Minister Oliver Letwin.
The amendment postpones the decision on whether or not to support the Brexit deal and effectively forces Johnson to request a third extension of the country's departure from the European Union. "I will not renegotiate extension with the EU and the law also does not force me to do this," Johnson said.
Leading opposition figure Jeremy Corbyn said that "the prime minister must now comply with the law" and request an extension of Brexit. Last month, MPs approved legislation that explicitly forces Johnson to send an extension letter to the EU if his Brexit deal is not approved by Saturday.
While the British Parliament debated the new Brexit deal, tens of thousands of demonstrators called for a second referendum on whether or not to leave the EU. Large parts of central London were completely filled with protesters. Thousands were still waiting at Hyde Park to start the march, while others had already reached Parliament.
Supporters fear that a new referendum will deepen divisions and undermine democracy. Some opinion polls show a slight shift in favor of remaining in the EU, but a real turnaround in sentiment has yet to emerge.
Campaigners say that about one million people were on the move. A demonstration of this size would be among the largest ever held in Great Britain. London police declined to comment on the number of people who took to the streets on Saturday.