Updated 30 October 2019 at 05:15 IST
UK House of Commons approves election in December, first since 1923
Britain is set to hold an early election on December 12, after bill authorizing the vote was passed by the House of Commons following months of Brexit deadlock
The United Kingdom is set to go to the polls on December 12, after a bill authorizing the vote was passed by MPs in the House of Commons, backing Boris Johnson's call for an early election following months of Brexit deadlock. By a margin of 438 votes to 20, the House of Commons approved legislation paving the way for the first December election since 1923.
Voters weary
It will become law once it is approved by the unelected House of Lords, which does not have the power to overrule the elected Commons. Johnson is hopeful that the early election will give his Conservative Party a majority so he can pass his Brexit deal and take Britain out of the European Union. However, the slow and inconclusive pace of Brexit has made the voters weary which might make the result of the election hard to predict.
European Council chief Donald Tusk, confirmed on Monday, October 28, that the 27-member bloc has agreed to accept the United Kingdom’s request to extend the Brexit deadline till January 31, 2020. “The decision is expected to be formalized through a written procedure”, said Tusk. In a major setback to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s push to leave the bloc by October 31, the House of Commons voted to delay the Brexit. It voted against Johnson’s demand to take only three days to review the 110-page Withdrawal Agreement.
'Brexit, saddest thing after World War II'
Earlier, British lawmakers had blocked Britain Prime Minister Boris Johnson's attempt to fast-track his Brexit bill through Parliament so that the U.K. can leave the bloc as scheduled on October 31. Virgin Group founder Richard Branson among many who has opposing views on the UK falling out of the European Union has said that Brexit is the saddest thing that has happened to Britain and Europe since World War II.
(With AP inputs)
Published By : Pritesh Kamath
Published On: 30 October 2019 at 04:20 IST