The day after the vote, May told the Prime Minister`s questions in the House of Commons: „We have seen concerns about Parliament`s role in the Brexit process. What I agreed yesterday is that, since the bill is up to the Lords, we would continue to discuss these concerns with our colleagues. This morning, I agreed with the Brexit minister that we would table an amendment to the Lords, and there are a number of things that will guide our approach… As my right-wing friend, the Brexit minister, made it clear in Parliament yesterday that the government`s hand in the negotiations cannot be bound by Parliament, but the government must be accountable to Parliament. It is the government that decides the policy, and we need parliamentary support to implement that policy. [52] Laura Kuenssberg of the BBC commented: „The risk is that it is a double trade. [53] In a debate with the Croatian Secretary of State for European Affairs, Nikolina Brnjac, on behalf of the Presidency of the Council, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and CHEF`s European negotiator Michel Barnier, Parliament provided an update on the withdrawal process and the challenges ahead. The three Labour MPs who voted for the deal were Ian Austin, Kevin Barron and John Mann. The three independent MPs who voted for the deal were Lady Hermon (independent), Frank Field (labour mp) and Stephen Lloyd (liberal Democrat). The five independent MPs who voted against the deal were John Woodcock, Jared O`Mara, Kelvin Hopkins, Ivan Lewis and Fiona Onasanya, all Elected Labour. [77] But before Parliament ended the Christmas break, MPs approved Mr. Johnson`s bill by 358 votes to 234. The second (Amendment 12) deprives ministers of the power to decide which courts may depart from the judgments of the European Court of Justice.
MEPs voted against by 241 votes in favour and 205, which resulted in the amendment. The process of ratifying the withdrawal agreement will continue next year, but Friday`s vote is expected to indicate in part that the UK is now heading towards the departure date of 31 January. The first (Amendment 18) would ensure the continuity of refugee children and the provisions of the European Union Withdrawal Act 2018 relating to family reunification. MePs voted by 300 votes in favour and 220 against, which resulted in the amendment. With regard to the historical importance of the vote, most speakers stressed, on behalf of the political groups, that the withdrawal of the United Kingdom would not be the end of the road to eu-UK relations and that the ties between the peoples of Europe are and will remain strong. They also stressed the possibility of learning from Brexit to shape the future of the EU and thanked the UK and its MPs for their contribution throughout the UK`s accession. Many speakers warned that negotiations on future relations between the EU and the UK would be difficult, particularly given the timetable set out in the withdrawal agreement. The withdrawal agreement provides for a transitional period until 31 December 2020, during which time the UK will remain in the internal market, to ensure the smooth flow of trade until a long-term relationship is concluded. If no agreement is reached by then, the UK will leave the single market without a trade deal on 1 January 2021.
The withdrawal agreement is closely linked to a non-binding political declaration on future relations between the EU and the UK. In her February 12 statement, the Prime Minister reaffirmed her goal of having a second „useful vote“ on a withdrawal agreement. She indicated that if this were not the case on February 26, the government would make a new statement to Parliament on the government`s progress and would introduce a amended motion to that declaration, which is expected to be put to a vote on February 27.
