UK premier Johnson ‘pauses’ Brexit bill legislation

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he has “paused” a bill on the EU withdrawal agreement after suffering a defeat on a vote that would enable him to fast-track legislation and leave the EU on Oct. 31 deadline.

The lawmakers passed the government’s EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill in its first stage in the House of Commons in an earlier vote with a majority of 30 after 329 MPs voted for it and 299 against.

However, the MPs rejected a government-proposed timetable, which could carry the legislation forward into later stages in a 322-308 vote.

MPs have debated all day the bill, which includes Johnson’s revised Brexit deal and passed it. However the lawmakers did not authorize the parliament to work longer hours to legislate it, saying such an important piece of legislation should be scrutinized longer.