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What is the Withdrawal Agreement Bill? What is the Withdrawal Agreement Bill?
(about 4 hours later)
In the Brexit process, we've had a Withdrawal Bill and we've got a withdrawal agreement.In the Brexit process, we've had a Withdrawal Bill and we've got a withdrawal agreement.
Now the government has published the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB).Now the government has published the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB).
Its purpose? To turn the withdrawal agreement, which is a draft international treaty, into UK law and to give the government permission to ratify it.Its purpose? To turn the withdrawal agreement, which is a draft international treaty, into UK law and to give the government permission to ratify it.
The terms on which the UK will leave the EU have now been agreed between Boris Johnson's government and those of the other 27 member states.The terms on which the UK will leave the EU have now been agreed between Boris Johnson's government and those of the other 27 member states.
Theresa May's government got to the same stage, but failed to win approval in Parliament for the settlement it had negotiated.Theresa May's government got to the same stage, but failed to win approval in Parliament for the settlement it had negotiated.
Mr Johnson hopes to go one better, by turning the agreement into legislation and getting the House of Commons to approve it in just three days Mr Johnson hopes to go one better, by turning the agreement into legislation and getting the House of Commons to approve it.
That's because he wants to fulfil his promise to leave the EU by 31 October, which is a tough ask, to say the least. He wanted that to happen to fulfil his promise to leave the EU by 31 October, but it was a tough ask, to say the least.
Bills to implement major European treaties usually take several weeks to get through Parliament, and sometimes considerably longer.Bills to implement major European treaties usually take several weeks to get through Parliament, and sometimes considerably longer.
If the government had a solid majority in the House of Commons, it could push the bill through pretty quickly. But it doesn't, and its opponents may well insist on more time to scrutinise the legislation properly. If the government had a solid majority in the House of Commons, it could have pushed the bill through pretty quickly. But it doesn't, and its opponents insisted on more time to scrutinise the legislation properly.
It is, they argue, one of the most important pieces of legislation in decades, and MPs need to be sure they know exactly what it says and does.It is, they argue, one of the most important pieces of legislation in decades, and MPs need to be sure they know exactly what it says and does.
So what does the WAB actually cover? Among other things:So what does the WAB actually cover? Among other things:
There will be a critical vote on the evening of Tuesday 22 October - lose that, and MPs may insist on taking longer to scrutinise the legislation. The 31 October deadline could start to slip away. On Tuesday 22 October the bill passed its first hurdle, the second reading, with a majority of 30. But the government also lost a critical vote over the timetable of the bill.
Even if the government wins that vote, there will still be opportunities for the legislation to be amended. It's expected some MPs will try to add a provision for holding a confirmatory referendum on Brexit, for example, and for the UK to remain in a customs union with the EU. The 31 October deadline is now extremely difficult to meet and the EU will consider an extension. In the meantime, Mr Johnson has paused the bill.
Another amendment could insist that the UK cannot leave the EU with no deal at the end of the transition period. Whatever the eventual timetable, there will still be opportunities for the legislation to be amended. It's expected some MPs will try to add a provision for holding a confirmatory referendum on Brexit, for example, and for the UK to remain in a customs union with the EU.
At the moment the bill only allows the government to ask for an extension. Parliament would have to approve it, but could not instigate the request. So the government could head for no deal by refusing to ask.
All of these are controversial topics.
That's why the WAB is tricky for the government: sensitive issues which can be fudged a bit in political communications have to be set down in black and white - and in precise legal language - for all to see.That's why the WAB is tricky for the government: sensitive issues which can be fudged a bit in political communications have to be set down in black and white - and in precise legal language - for all to see.
It's another reason why time could be working against Boris Johnson and his "do or die" pledge to leave the EU at the end of October.
The government still insists that it has the numbers to get this legislation through Parliament.The government still insists that it has the numbers to get this legislation through Parliament.
If it fails to do that in time, then the default position is currently that the UK would leave the EU without a deal on 31 October.If it fails to do that in time, then the default position is currently that the UK would leave the EU without a deal on 31 October.
But under the terms of the Benn Act the Prime Minister has now sent a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk making a formal request for an extension to the Brexit process until 31 January 2020. But under the terms of the Benn Act the prime minister sent a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk making a formal request for an extension to the Brexit process until 31 January 2020.
The EU will watch events in Westminster closely over the next few days, before deciding how to respond to the extension request. The EU are now deciding how to respond to the extension request.
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