Brexit Developments - Johnson's New Deal

Due to a law passed weeks ago stating that if a new Brexit deal was not done by Saturday the 19th at midnight, Johnson would have to ask the EU for another extension. So, on 10 October 2019 Boris Johnson brought his new revised Brexit deal before the UK Parliament for a vote. Although it was thought to be highly unlikely, Johnson was able to negotiate a new Brexit deal with the EU, with minimal changes to the failed deal of Theresa May. However, thanks to Johnson’s acceptance of a customs check at the point of entry into Northern Ireland, effectively dropping the controversial Irish backstop from the deal, the new Brexit deal was made possible. Essentially the deal remains the same in terms of citizenship rights, however the backstop has been removed and instead Northern Ireland will remain a part of the UK’s customs territory as well as an entry point into the EU’s customs zone, with the UK stating that it will not apply tariffs to products entering Northern Ireland as long as they are not destined for onward transportation across the border. This new development to the deal allowed for the EU to agree to a revision, but caused Northern Ireland to feel slighted by the UK.

Johnson pushed for the vote on Saturday 19 October, but instead of voting on the deal itself, MPs passed an amendment forcing Johnson to request yet another Brexit deal from the EU. Johnson sent the letter, without his signature, and then promptly followed with his own signed letter stating that his thoughts that another extension would be a mistake.

UK Parliament is set to have a clear “yes or no” vote Monday 21 October in the afternoon, as Johnson hopes this will force his deal through the MPs. If the deal is passed, but the subsequent implementation legislation does not pass, the UK would leave without a deal on the 31 October.

If the deal is not passed, the UK must wait for the EU’s either approval or denial of another extension to Brexit. Additionally, if the deal is not passed, the default legal position is still for the UK to leave on 31 October without a deal.