U.K. Parliament won't vote on Boris Johnson's Brexit deal today like he wanted
The Brexit clock is ticking for U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and he just hit another momentary snag.
With 10 days remaining until the Oct. 31 deadline, House of Commons Speaker John Bercow denied Johnson's attempt to put the Brexit deal he brokered with the European Union up for a "meaningful vote" Monday. Bercow said the motion was the same as the one that was debated Saturday before Parliament passed an amendment requiring Johnson to ask for an extension from the EU before voting on his deal, which he did begrudgingly.
Bercow said debating the motion again would "be repetitive and disorderly," citing a parliamentary rule from 1604 which prohibits the government from repeatedly asking Parliament to vote on the exact same motion. The speaker did say he was not preventing a vote on Johnson's legislation at a later date, but added that MPs must see the legislation, which is being introduced for a first reading Monday, first. Once they've gone through that, MPs will vote on whether to back it tomorrow.
"Nothing in what I have said, in any way impinges upon the opportunity for the government to secure approval of its deal" - John Bercow says it's "not for the Speaker to interfere" and makes "no apology" for his decision
Latest Brexit updates: https://t.co/3zdhRbANWj pic.twitter.com/SuxnYb9Kp5— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) October 21, 2019
Bercow received some pushback for his decision from Conservatives, and a spokesperson for Johnson said the government was "disappointed," but several other MPs respected the conclusion. Read more at The Financial Times and The Guardian.
