If you're depending on COTTonLINE to keep you up-to-date on the status of Brexit, here's where we stand. Parliament refused to approve the deal the PM worked out with the EU. Their so-called Benn law requires him to ask the EU for an extension.
Johnson has presumable sent the legally mandated letter of request; one source I saw said he sent but did not sign it. Meanwhile, Parliament has indicated it won't pass the Boris Brexit until and unless the enabling legislation has been passed first. I interpret that to mean they believe the devil is in the details which they insist on approving instead of buying the proverbial poke-clad pig.
It is worth remembering that a majority of MPs dislike Brexit and would prefer it not to happen. This is so even though a majority of British voted for Brexit. Clearly the MPs believe they know best and their constituents can be damned.
So maybe all the current status means is that passing the enabling legislation is something they can stall on indefinitely, and never quite accomplish to the satisfaction of a Commons majority.
I wonder what happens if, on October 31, the EU bids them farewell with no deal agreed to? It would serve them right.
Now we await the EU response to the extension request. Somewhere along the line there is likely to be an election following a vote of no confidence in the existing group running things. Depending on who wins and by how much, different outcomes will occur. Stay tuned.
