LONDON (AP) – An attempt by British lawmakers to stop the country leaving the European Union in October without a divorce deal has passed its first major hurdle in Parliament.
The House of Commons voted 329-300 to approve the bill in principle, sending it on for further debate and another vote later Wednesday.
If the legislation is approved by the House of Commons it will go to Parliament’s upper chamber, the House of Lords. Pro-Brexit peers are threatening to try to stop it by filibustering – talking so much time runs out.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Britain must leave the EU on Oct. 31, with or without a deal, and plans to seek a snap election if the opposition bill becomes law.
—
Finland’s prime minister, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, says there isn’t widespread support within the bloc to grant Britain a further Brexit extension.
Antti Rinne told reporters at the Finnish Parliament that the bloc would require “some sort of future scenario … to underline that something sensible could start happening.”
He said there is “no sense” in granting Britain an extension to the current Brexit date of Oct. 31 “that seems to lead nowhere, and I don’t think it’s possible to find majority support (among the 27 other EU members) for such an extension.”
British lawmakers are set to vote later on a bill that effectively authorize the government to seek an extension if a Brexit deal is not agreed with the EU before the scheduled departure date.