World

"RIP Brexit Deal": Eurosceptic Boris Brands It 'Dead' as Gov't Plans 3d Vote

Vocal Brexiteer Boris Johnson has remained unmoved in his rejection of Theresa May's Brexit deal since his resignation from the Cabinet in July 2018 - until very recently.
Sputnik

Former UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has now reportedly delivered another blow to Downing Street, saying that the Withdrawal Agreement proposed by the government is "dead anyway."

Johnson, part of the hard-Brexit supporter faction within the ruling Conservative Party, has on numerous occasions criticised Theresa May's deal, calling for '29 March Brexit', as it was initially promised by the government.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson: EU Will Exploit Irish Backstop to 'Blackmail' Britain

The former Foreign Secretary is one of the Tory MPs who have been subject of leadership talks in Westminster, following the resignation of Theresa May, which she offered on 27 March. Johnson' candidacy for the PM role has been largely viewed next to such Tory officials, as Jacob Rees-Mogg, Michael Gove, Jeremy Hunt, Amber Rudd and Sajid Javid.

A combination of picture created in London on November 25, 2018 shows Conservative MPs (L) opposed to the Brexit withdrawl deal negotiated with EU by prime minister Theresa May (R), (top L-R) Jacob Rees-Mogg, chair of the Euro-sceptic European Research Group (ERG), and former prominent cabinet ministers David Davis and Boris Johnson who support the ERG's opposition to the deal and remain-supporting Conservative MPs (bottom L-R) Justine Greening, Dominic Grieve and Jo Johnson all pictured in London.

For Theresa May to deliver on her resignation promise, her Brexit deal would have to be passed by the Parliament — something that so far it has failed to do on two occasions.  

On Thursday, House of Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom told the MPs that the Parliament will hold an unscheduled sitting day to debate a Brexit motion on 29 March, but failed to clarify whether it will hold a third meaningful vote on the Brexit deal.

Leadsom also said that the first week of Easter recess for the Parliament may be cancelled, amid ongoing efforts by the government to win over Labour and DUP votes to back the Brexit deal.

Details on whether the government will hold a "meaningful vote" on 29 March are expected to emerge later on Thursday. 

Discuss