Brexit: UK Parliament votes to delay EU exit in a setback for Johnson

In a major setback to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, UK lawmakers in British Parliament have voted 322-306 to delay Brexit. The motion was led by MP Oliver Letwin. PM Johnson faced a harsh majority when the Parliament voted to postpone the decision on Britain's divorce from the 28-nation bloc. It again clouds the referendum proposed by the UK PM to make Brexit happen on October 31. The Parliament gathered in a rare weekend session to go review the new deal Boris Johnson had earlier announced with the EU on October 17, which EU's Juncker had termed as “balanced and fair”. 

Read - UK Lawmakers Ponder Brexit Decision In Historic Session

Further delay in Brexit

During the weekend session in Parliament, the UK PM had implored the legislators to ratify the deal which was decided on October 17 between the EU leaders and the UK during the EU summit. Moreover, Boris Johnson had also said that the lawmakers should come together as “democrats” to end this feud which has created uncertainty in the country since 2016. However, UK lawmakers voted 322 to 306 crossparty led by an ammendment by Oliver Letwin to delay Brexit.

Read - Jeremy Corbyn Terms UK PM Boris Johnson's New Brexit Deal A 'sell-out'

Read - Johnson Returns To London To Drum Up Support For Brexit Deal

Did not support the new deal

PM Johnson's deal getting Parliamentary approval was unsure form the beginning due to the withdrawal of support of the Tory party's key ally, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). The deal which Juncker termed as “fair” has not been supported the Northern Ireland party who also released an official statement about why the members will not be able to support the proposals in Parliament.

Jeremy Corbyn has also said that from the information which he had received, the new deal was worse than what was proposed by the former British PM Theresa May. According to Corbyn, the present agreement also puts the citizens' rights at risk and, therefore, should be rejected. Fleur Anderson, a Labour Party candidate for Parliament, also said that the vast majority of Wandsworth residents do not agree with the Brexit deal and that many people have started feeling the impact. 

Read - Yes Or No? Vital Vote On Brexit Plan Set For Saturday In UK

Read - European Union Leaders Shift Focus From Brexit To Budget And Climate

(With inputs from agencies)