The agreement also provides for a transitional period, which lasts until 31 December 2020 and can be extended once by mutual agreement. During the transition period, EU law will continue to apply to the UK (including participation in the European Economic Area, the Single Market and the Customs Union) and the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget, but the UK will not be represented in EU decision-making bodies. The transition period will give businesses time to adjust to the new situation, and the UK and EU governments time to negotiate a new EU-UK trade deal. [17] [18] Jeremy Corbyn said Labour would continue to oppose the government`s Brexit deal, but six Labour MPs opposed the party`s whip and voted with the government, and around 20 others deliberately abstained, including shadow housing minister John Healey. South Shields MP Emma Lewell-Buck, who was one of six Labour MPs who voted in favour of the bill, said it was time to end “the opposition for the sake of the opposition”. The agreement was revised as part of the Johnson Ministry`s renegotiation in 2019. The amendments adapt about 5% of the text. [22] “Labour will not support this law because we are sure there is a better and fairer way for this country to leave the EU.” The Withdrawal Agreement provides for a transition period until the 31st. December 2020, in which the UK will remain in the single market to ensure smooth trade until a long-term relationship is agreed. If no agreement is reached by that date, the UK will leave the single market on 1 January 2021 without a trade agreement. A non-binding political declaration on the future relationship between the EU and the UK is closely linked to the Withdrawal Agreement. With regard to the Irish border issue, there is a protocol on Northern Ireland (the “backstop”) which is annexed to the agreement and sets out a fallback position that will only enter into force if no other effective arrangement is demonstrated before the end of the transition period.
If this happens, the UK will eclipse the EU`s common external tariff and Northern Ireland will remain in some aspects of the single market until such a demonstration is achieved. None of the parties can unilaterally withdraw from this customs union. The aim of this backstop agreement is to avoid a “hard” border in Ireland where customs controls are necessary. [19] Members approved all amendments tabled by the House of Commons without division (vote). An attempt by the Liberal Democrats to establish a right of appeal against decisions on regulated status was rejected by 343 votes to 251, as was a similar amendment by the SNP. Receipt of the deal in the House of Commons ranged from cold to hostile and the vote was delayed by more than a month. .