Oct 24, 2019

Boris Johnson offers longer Brexit deal debate in exchange for snap election

Photo: Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday that he would grant members of Parliament an extended timetable to debate his Brexit deal, provided they back a general election on Dec. 12, per the BBC.

The state of play: Johnson's offer significantly ups the stakes in the ongoing Brexit tumult, but there's no guarantee that Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party will agree to the offer.

Johnson told the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg that — should his offer be accepted — he would try to get his Brexit deal, which passed a procedural parliamentary vote this week, through Parliament before it dissolves on Nov. 6 to campaign.
Corbyn would surely rather fight an election without an agreed-upon deal — in effect, turning the election into an extended referendum on Johnson's deal.

Between the lines: This is Johnson's first admission that the U.K. will not leave the EU on Oct. 31, which he previously stated would happen "do or die."

He said that he "really" did not want to ask the EU for an extension but was forced to by the political realities.

Go deeper: Everything you need to know about Brexit

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Jacob Knutson

EU agrees to Brexit extension until January 31

Photo: Amer Ghazzal/Barcroft Media via Getty Images

European Council President Donald Tusk said Monday that the European Union has accepted the U.K.'s request for a Brexit extension until Jan. 31, 2020.

The state of play: Tusk made the announcement on the same day that members of Parliament are set to vote on whether to accept Prime Minister Boris Johnson's call to have a snap general election on Dec. 12, per the BBC.

Go deeperOct 28, 2019

Axios

Everything you need to know about Brexit

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

On June 23, 2016, the United Kingdom shocked the world and voted to “Brexit,” or leave the European Union. After more than three years of uncertainty and fractured politics, the U.K. officially exited the EU on Jan. 31, 2020.

Go deeperUpdated Oct 29, 2019 - World

Dave Lawler

Parliament blocks Boris Johnson's plan for a snap general election

Boris Johnson emerges from Downing Street before today's vote. Photo: Peter Summers/Getty Images

LONDON — The U.K. Parliament voted Monday to reject Prime Minister Boris Johnson's attempt to call a snap general election on Dec. 12.

Why it matters: The EU granted the U.K. another Brexit extension until Jan. 31, underlining Johnson's failure to deliver on his "do or die" pledge to take the U.K. out of the bloc at the end of this month. Parliament agreed in principle last week to the deal he negotiated with the EU, but not to the expedited timetable on which he wanted to pass it. With momentum now stalled, Johnson wants an election fight before the end of the year.

Go deeperOct 28, 2019