The Withdrawal Agreement Bill, also known as the WAB, has been a topic of great discussion and debate in the United Kingdom since the Brexit referendum in 2016. This bill is essentially a legal instrument that translates the Brexit deal into UK law and sets out the terms of the UK`s departure from the European Union.
In order to become law, the WAB needs to be passed by the UK`s House of Commons and House of Lords. The bill has already gone through several rounds of voting in the House of Commons, with the most recent vote taking place on October 22, 2019.
The vote on October 22 was significant because it marked the first time that the UK government had managed to secure a majority for the WAB in the House of Commons. The vote passed by a margin of 329-299, with a majority of 30. This was seen as a major victory for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has been pushing for a speedy exit from the EU.
However, the victory was short-lived. Just a few minutes after the vote, the House of Commons voted against the government`s proposed timetable for passing the bill into law. This meant that the bill was effectively put on hold, and the government was forced to request an extension to the Brexit deadline from the EU.
The vote on the timetable was a major setback for the government, as it meant that the UK was likely to miss the October 31 deadline for leaving the EU. This was a blow to Johnson, who had promised to deliver Brexit “do or die” by the end of October.
Since the vote on October 22, there have been further developments in the WAB saga. The government has now secured a general election on December 12, which is likely to be dominated by the issue of Brexit. The outcome of the election will determine the fate of the WAB, and whether the UK will leave the EU with a deal or no deal.
In conclusion, the withdrawal agreement bill votes have been a rollercoaster ride for the UK government and the British public. The passing of the bill in the House of Commons was a major victory for the government, but the subsequent vote on the timetable has put a spanner in the works. With a general election on the horizon, it remains to be seen what the future holds for the WAB and the UK`s relationship with the EU.
