This week's events mark a significant milestone in the UK's Brexit process. At the EU Summit the European Commission and the UK Government agreed a revised Brexit deal, which the EU Council endorsed.
The next step is for the UK Government to obtain approval from the UK House of Commons on the revised deal starting with a vote this Saturday (19 October 2019). Without the support of the DUP it is far from certain that the UK Government will win the initial vote.
If the House of Commons does not approve the revised Brexit deal or consent to a no-deal Brexit, the UK Prime Minister will have to decide how to deal with his obligations under the so called Benn-Burt Act which legally requires him to send a letter to the European Council no later than 19 October 2019 seeking an extension to the Brexit deadline to 31 January 2020. At the same time it is not clear whether the EU member states would unanimously support any such request as required.
See further background here.
The outcomes of the EU Summit and the votes in the UK House of Commons this Saturday 19 October will have enormous implications for which combination of a deal, no deal, an extension to the Brexit deadline, a referendum and/or a General Election that the UK faces.
Paul Butcher (Brexit Director, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP) was joined by James McBride (Director, Hanbury Strategy) to discuss what this all means for the UK's Brexit process.
To access the webinar recording, please contact us here.
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