House of Commons passes Brexit delay bill, PM calls for election on October 15

NEWS 04.09.201921:17
UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Handout via REUTERS

British lawmakers have passed on Wednesday a bill aimed at preventing a no-deal Brexit, in another blow to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

It cleared the House of Commons by 327 votes to 299.

It now goes to the House of Lords where it will likely face extensive delaying tactics.

Conservative peers, who do not have a majority in the upper house, want to prevent the motion being passed in Wednesday's session. If they succeed, that could prevent it from becoming law before Johnson suspends Parliament early next week.

The unelected upper chamber of the UK Parliament has limited powers. It can either pass the bill as it is, or send it back to the Commons with amendments.

While the Lords can't reject the bill, they can attempt to delay the process. It seems like that is likely: the House of Lords has tabled 86 amendments to the bill even ahead of the Commons vote on Wednesday.

Timing is crucial because Parliament is set to be suspended for five weeks starting next week.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is not happy with the result in the House of Commons where lawmakers have just backed delaying Brexit.

Addressing Parliament straight after his defeat, he said the bill “hands over control” to the European Union.

“It's a bill designed to overturn the biggest democratic vote in our history, the 2016 referendum. It forces the Prime Minister, with a pre-drafted letter, to surrender in international negotiations. I refuse to do this.”

Johnson told lawmakers in the House of Commons that the Government can't function when Parliament is passing laws “that destroy the ability of government to negotiate.”

Therefore, he said, a new election is necessary, calling for a vote on Tuesday, October 15.

“I don't want an election, the public does not want an election, the country doesn't want the election. But this house has left no other option than letting the public decide who they want as Prime Minister.”