House of Lords ticks off Brexit divorce

After years of acrimonious debate, the British parliament has approved the terms of their country’s departure from the EU.

Anti-Brexit protesters outside the Palace of Westminster after the House of Lords approved the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill on Wednesday. Picture: Hollie Adams for AP

After years of acrimonious debate, the British parliament has finally approved the terms of their country’s historic departure from the EU, due in eight days’ time.

MPs in the House of Commons had already backed the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which ratifies the divorce deal that Prime Minister Boris Johnson struck with Brussels last year, but the House of Lords made some changes this week, including on the rights of EU ­citizens and child refugees after Brexit.

In a series of votes on Wednesday night, the Commons — where Mr Johnson’s Conserv­atives have a large majority — rejected all five amendments and sent the bill back to the Lords, who then reluctantly agreed to back down.

The only hurdle left to formal ratification now is royal assent by the Queen, which could come as soon as Thursday night, paving the way for Britain to leave the EU next Friday.

The European parliament still has to back the deal in a vote next week but its approval in London is a historic moment, as Britain edges closer to becoming the first country to leave the 28-member EU.

“At times it felt like we would never cross the Brexit finish line, but we’ve done it,” Mr Johnson said. “Now we can put the rancour and division of the past three years behind us and focus on delivering a bright, exciting future.”

It is a huge personal achievement for Mr Johnson, who took office last year promising to end several years of political wrangling that had divided the country and paralysed his pre­decessor, Theresa May. Mrs May negotiated a Brexit deal with Brussels in 2018 but the Commons rejected it three times, forcing her to resign.

Mr Johnson then agreed changes to the text with Brussels, only to be defeated again by MPs unable to agree on the timetable for turning his new deal into law.

He accused them of trying to frustrate the result of the 2016 referendum vote for Brexit and forced a snap election last month.

The result, with Mr Johnson returned to office on December 12 with an 80-seat majority, fundamentally upended the dynamic and MPs swiftly backed the agreement.

The Lords put up a minor fight this week.

One amendment sought to alter the government’s scheme to register about 3.6 million EU citizens living in Britain and give them physical documents proving their right to stay.

Another change would have required the government to negotiate the right of un­accompanied child refugees in the EU to join relatives in Britain.

The Brexit deal protects the rights of EU citizens, makes special trading arrangements for Northern Ireland and settles Britain’s EU debts.

It also paves the way for a transition phase until December 31, in which British-EU ties will remain largely the same while both sides try to agree on a new trading and security partnership.

The shape of that future relationship remains unresolved — and negotiating it could pose an even bigger challenge than agreeing on the divorce.

In a speech early in February, Mr Johnson is expected to set out more detail of his hopes for a free-trade agreement with Brussels along the lines of the EU’s recent deal with Canada.

“I’m absolutely confident that we can do that,” Mr Johnson said on Wednesday while taking questions online from the public.

He wants to both preserve free-flowing commerce between Britain and its largest trading partner across the Channel, and strike trade agreements with other countries, namely the US and Australia.

Brussels has warned that it is impossible to address all issues in that time, suggesting a more limited deal is likely.

While British Chancellor Sajid Javid admitted on Wednesday that it was a “tight timetable”, he agreed with Mr Johnson that it could be done.

Downing Street denied a row with Washington over London’s proposed tax on tech giants would affect trade negotiations after Brexit, saying: “It’s not part of the discussions.”

AFP