This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46393399

The article has changed 95 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 57 Version 58
Brexit: What happens now? Brexit: What happens now?
(1 day later)
Both houses of Parliament have now passed a law that is designed to stop a no-deal Brexit on 31 October. A law designed to stop a no-deal Brexit on 31 October has been passed.
If no deal is agreed by 19 October, and MPs don't vote in favour of no deal, then the prime minister will be legally obliged to ask the EU for a Brexit delay. If a deal is not agreed between the UK and EU by 19 October, and MPs don't vote in favour of leaving with no deal, then the prime minister - currently Boris Johnson - will be legally obliged to ask the EU for a Brexit delay.
If he refused, it would almost certainly lead to a legal battle. There are a number of scenarios that could now happen.
The only obvious way around this would be to hold a general election. Get a new deal
Snap election Boris Johnson says he is trying to negotiate a new deal with the EU. If that happened and MPs backed it before 31 October there would be no need for an extension.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is seeking to hold an early election on 15 October. The existing deal negotiated by former Prime Minister Theresa May and her government has been defeated in the House of Commons several times - and Mr Johnson has said it is dead.
He needs two-thirds of MPs to support an early election. The government's first motion to secure this failed but there will be another attempt on Monday. The government wants a deal with no backstop - a measure aimed at preventing any possibility of border posts and checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Theoretically, there is another way he could achieve his goal. A short new law specifying the date of an early general election would require only a simple majority and not need two-thirds of MPs. But while the EU has said it would consider any new UK proposals, it has repeatedly stated the backstop is a critical part of the deal.
If polling day was set before 31 October, then what would happen next on Brexit would depend on the outcome of the election. Try to get round the law designed to block no-deal Brexit
How soon could there be a general election? If there is no new deal, and the prime minister refuses to seek an extension there is likely to be a legal battle.
Cabinet ministers have said the government will obey the law, but the prime minister has said he will not ask for an extension. There has been some speculation about finding a loophole in the law or using some other device to avoid Mr Johnson himself having to ask for the extension. The idea of a loophole has been played down by former Supreme Court Justice Lord Sumption.
No-deal Brexit on 31 OctoberNo-deal Brexit on 31 October
The default position is the UK will leave the EU on 31 October at 23:00 GMT. The default position is still that the UK will leave the EU on 31 October at 23:00 GMT.
Even if the prime minister requests an extension there is no guarantee that the other EU countries would agree.Even if the prime minister requests an extension there is no guarantee that the other EU countries would agree.
Alternatively, a snap election could produce a new House of Commons that would vote in favour of no deal. Or a new government with a clear majority could choose to repeal the law.
Leaving without a deal (or withdrawal agreement) means the UK would immediately exit the customs union and single market - arrangements designed to make trade easier.Leaving without a deal (or withdrawal agreement) means the UK would immediately exit the customs union and single market - arrangements designed to make trade easier.
Many politicians and businesses say this would damage the economy. Others say the risks are exaggerated.Many politicians and businesses say this would damage the economy. Others say the risks are exaggerated.
Early election
Prime Minister Boris Johnson still wants to have an election soon. But any election will definitely happen after 31 October, when the UK is due to leave the EU.
That's because Parliament is suspended - or prorogued - until 14 October and from that point there must be at least 25 working days until a general election happens. That takes us right into the middle of November at least.
There are different ways it could be triggered.
The government has twice failed to get two-thirds of MPs to support an early election under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act. But the opposition could support an election in a third vote.
The alternative is a short new law specifying the date of an early general election - this would require only a simple majority and not need two-thirds of MPs.
There is another much more dramatic way - the prime minister could call a vote of no confidence in his own government.
Vote of no confidenceVote of no confidence
Another possibility is a vote of no confidence in the government. At any point the opposition could call a vote of no confidence in the government.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has previously said he would table such a motion. There's also been a suggestion that Boris Johnson could call a no confidence vote in his own government.Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has previously said he would table such a motion. There's also been a suggestion that Boris Johnson could call a no confidence vote in his own government.
If more MPs vote for the no-confidence motion than against it, there would then be a 14-day window to see if the current government - or an alternative one with a new prime minister - could win a vote of confidence.If more MPs vote for the no-confidence motion than against it, there would then be a 14-day window to see if the current government - or an alternative one with a new prime minister - could win a vote of confidence.
A new government appointed in this way would probably then seek a Brexit delay - perhaps to hold a general election or another referendum. If no-one does then a general election would follow.
But if no-one wins a confidence vote, triggering a general election Mr Johnson goes into as prime minister, he could choose to hold it after 31 October, when Brexit would have already happened.
Pass a deal by 31 October
The government's preferred option to prevent a no-deal Brexit is for the UK Parliament to ratify a withdrawal agreement with the EU before the end of October.
But the existing deal negotiated by Theresa May and her government has been defeated in the House of Commons several times - and Boris Johnson has said it is dead.
The government hopes it can secure a new deal from the EU - or an amended version of the existing deal without the Irish backstop, which the government opposes.
The backstop is a measure aimed at preventing any possibility of border posts and checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
But while the EU has said it would consider any new UK proposals, it has repeatedly stated the backstop is a critical part of the deal.
Cancel BrexitCancel Brexit
There is also the legal option of cancelling Brexit altogether by revoking Article 50.There is also the legal option of cancelling Brexit altogether by revoking Article 50.
But clearly, this is not something the current government is contemplating - so it's only really possible to imagine this outcome after a change of government.But clearly, this is not something the current government is contemplating - so it's only really possible to imagine this outcome after a change of government.