The UK Parliament postpones the vote on the EU UK Brexit Agreement reached this week in Brussels. Prime Minister Boris Johnson must therefore request a new postponement with the EU, but he has already said that he will not do so. He wants to try to submit the necessary legislative proposals next Tuesday so that Great Britain can step out of the EU as of 31 October.
The House of Commons first wants to lay down all Brexit agreements by law, so that the British government can no longer make changes thereafter. The politicians also want to prevent new elections coming soon and that a new British government can subsequently reverse the Brexit arrangement.
With their amendment on the votes, British MPs at the last minute inflicted a major defeat on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal. MEPs decided by 322 to 306 votes to support the amendment tabled by former Prime Minister Oliver Letwin.
The amendment postpones a decision on whether or not to support the Brexit deal and effectively forces Johnson to request a third extension of the European Union's farewell. I will not negotiate postponement again with the EU and the law does not force me to do this & #8221 ;, Johnson said.
Chief opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn said that & #8220; the prime minister must now comply with the law & #8221; and must request an extension of the Brexit. Last month, MPs passed legislation explicitly forcing Johnson to send a delay letter to EU if his Brexit deal is not approved before Saturday.
While the British Parliament debated the new Brexit deal, tens of thousands of protesters called for a second referendum on whether or not to leave EU. Large parts of central London were completely filled with demonstrators. Thousands were still waiting at Hyde Park to start the march, while others had already reached parliament.
Proponents fear that a new referendum will make the contradictions even greater and undermine democracy. Some opinion polls show a slight shift in favor of membership of the EU, but a real change in the mood is not yet apparent.
The campaigners say there were around a million people on the move. A demonstration of this magnitude would be one of the largest ever held in Britain. The London police did not want to comment on the number of people who took to the streets on Saturday.