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UK Parliament approves bill to block Boris Johnson’s no-deal Brexit

The UK Parliament’s House of Lords on Friday approved a bill designed to stop Prime Minister Boris Johnson from leaving the European Union in mid-October without a divorce agreement.

The unelected upper chamber’s action came after the elected House of Commons also voted to pass it earlier this week.

It will become law within days once it receives royal assent from Queen Elizabeth.

The law, backed by opposition lawmakers and rebels from Johnson’s own Conservative Party, compels the PM to ask the EU to postpone Brexit if no divorce agreement is in place by Oct. 19.

Johnson says the UK must leave the bloc on the currently scheduled date of Oct. 31, even if there is no deal.

Meanwhile, the EU said it was still waiting for proposals from the UK government on how to end its political impasse on Brexit, while talks about the stalled withdrawal agreement continued in Brussels.

European Commission spokeswoman Natasha Bertaud said that “for progress to be made in the talks, it remains crucial that the EU does receive concrete proposals on all changes that the United Kingdom would like to see, of course in compatibility with the withdrawal agreement.”

UK negotiator David Frost on Friday held the second round of technical talks this week with EU officials at the European Commission’s headquarters.

The commission is supervising Brexit negotiations on behalf of Britain’s 27 EU partners.

Anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller arrives at the High Court in London
Anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller arrives at the High Court in LondonAP

Also Friday, opposition parties said they won’t support Johnson’s call for an election when it comes to a vote next week.

The parties have been mulling whether to agree to a mid-October poll, which can only be triggered if two-thirds of lawmakers agree.

Johnson says an election is the only way to break the Brexit impasse.

But opponents don’t want to agree unless they can ensure that Johnson can’t take Britain out of the European Union on Oct. 31 without a divorce agreement, as he has threatened to do.

After discussions Friday, opposition lawmakers said they would not back an election until the government had asked the EU to delay Brexit.

With Post wires