Brexit: Vote only on withdrawal agreement on Friday

On Friday, the day the UK was supposed to leave the European Union, the House of Commons members will vote again on Brexit on a part negotiated with the EU, which is only on the withdrawal agreement -- on the Irish "backstop", divorce bill and citizens' rights.

It will, however, not amount to a third "meaningful vote" on the deal, as it will not include a vote on the UK's future relationship with the EU.

This vote is "crucial" nevertheless, if the UK wants to secure a Brexit delay until May 22, the BBC reported.

Both Labour and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) have said they would vote against the withdrawal agreement on the day.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the withdrawal agreement could not be separated from the political declaration "because otherwise you move into a blindfold Brexit".

The DUP's deputy leader Nigel Dodds said he was not expecting "any last minute rabbits out of the hat" that would change the party's position, the BBC reported.

The vote on Friday is May's request to MPs to allow "her to keep going, to carry on pursuing her route, with its well-documented flaws".

There are signs that many Eurosceptic MPs are ready to say "yes" - not because they suddenly have realised her deal is perfect but because more of them officially realise that it is the clearest break from the EU they can realistically hope for.

--IANS

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