Brexit moves one step forward, one step back

BRITISH Prime Minister Boris Johnson scored a symbolic win, but also suffered a significant reversal, in a dramatic night of House of Commons' voting on Tuesday, that will most likely delay the UK's departure from the EU. For the very first time, Members of Parliament (MPs) voted for a specific Brexit outcome - Mr Johnson's tweaked version of the EU withdrawal bill - but legislators rightly rejected by 322-308 the breakneck speed proposed to get the legislation through Parliament by Oct 31.

The absurdity of Mr Johnson seeking to get the bill through in such a short amount of time is illustrated by the fact that MPs had more time to debate the Wild Animals in Circuses Act (affecting an estimated 19 animals) than they would to decide the future of 65 million people under the government's plan. As many MPs flagged, this rushed timetable appeared to show contempt for parliamentary democracy when this was one of the central arguments of Brexiteers to "take back control" during the 2016 referendum.

Nonetheless, Mr Johnson has scored a symbolic win with his victory by 329-299 at the so-called second reading on the withdrawal bill. That success reflects several factors, including the fact that his renegotiation has taken out the so-called Northern Ireland "backstop" to avoid post-Brexit customs controls between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland - enabling him to win support of hardcore Conservative Brexiteers who voted against former prime minster Theresa May's deal - while also winning support of 19 Labour MPs in constituencies which voted Leave in 2016.