Boris Signs Post-Brexit Trade Deal, Says ‘Excellent for Country’

Boris Johnson’s post-Brexit trade deal with Brussels passed into law following a whirlwind 14-hour parliamentary process that has radically redrawn the UK’s ties with Europe.

British lawmakers voted 521 to 73 on Wednesday, 30 December, to progress the post-Brexit trade deal, agreed with the European Union, to its final stages in the lower house of Parliament, reported Reuters.

The Prime Minister thanked MPs and peers for passing the European Union (future relationship) Bill in one day, in a statement, urging the nation to “seize” the moment when the transition period with the bloc ends at 11 pm on Thursday.

The Queen had given approval to the European Union (future relationship) Bill at 12.25 am on Thursday morning, reported The Guardian.

“The destiny of this great country now resides firmly in our hands. We take on this duty with a sense of purpose and with the interests of the British public at the heart of everything we do.”

Boris Johnson, Britain PM

“We have done this in less than a year, in the teeth of a pandemic, and we have pressed ahead with this task, resisting all calls for delay, precisely because creating certainty about our future provides the best chance of beating COVID and bouncing back even more strongly next year,” he said.

Parliament Recall: A Rare Event

Britain’s Parliament voted on Wednesday to approve a trade deal with the European Union.

The Bill, to enact Downing Street’s trade agreement, covered the government’s trade deal with the EU, through the Commons and Lords. An 80-page draft version of the Bill was published on Tuesday.

This discussion will also see a lot of virtual debate as Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the house, told that the government intends to bring forward a motion to extend remote participation to proceedings, so that MPs can be debate virtually, reported The Guardian.

This is a rare event as the Parliament has been recalled from a recess only 30 times since 1948.

The deal that has taken months of negotiations will see three readings of the Bill, including any potential amendments and then voting, that is expected to span for over five hours of the Parliament’s time.

Proceedings in the Lords are expected to start at around 3 pm and go on till 11 pm and is expected to receive royal assent by Thursday.

(With inputs from The Guardian)