![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/media-reference:7549c01a813344d1b14ff5ccc7d1b739.jpg\" "\\"Britain's")
<\/div>London – British lawmakers on Friday approved Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit bill by a wide margin, clearing another hurdle for Britain to leave the European Union on January 31.<\/p>\n
Parliament’s elected main house, the Commons, voted by 358 to 234 for Johnson’s EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill, a majority of 124 votes in favour.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Passage of the bill had been expected to be a formality after the Conservatives won a majority of 80 seats in the 650-member Commons last week.<\/p>\n
European Council President Charles Michel said the vote to approve the withdrawal deal was an “important step” in Britain’s departure from the bloc.<\/p>\n
“A level playing field remains a must for any future relationship,” Michel added in a tweet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
After the vote, lawmakers who supported Brexit were seen asking Johnson to sign copies of their agenda papers to mark the day.<\/p>\n
Conservative lawmaker Andrea Jenkins later tweeted: “Hooray, a Brexit majority vote,” and a photo of a board with the vote tally.<\/p>\n
Nigel Farage, a veteran eurosceptic whose Brexit Party failed to win any seats in the election, also welcomed the outcome.<\/p>\n
“Brexit is happening. An historic moment,” he tweeted.<\/p>\n
The bill is set to go through the remaining stages in early January and become law as soon as possible<\/p>\n
After leaving on January 31, Britain is to negotiate an agreement on future relations with the EU by the end of next year.<\/p>\n
Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, tried – and failed – three times to get parliament to approve an earlier withdrawal agreement with the EU.<\/p>\n
An amendment to the bill also forbids an extension of the transition period beyond 2020.<\/p>\n
It was the first major vote since Johnson’s Conservatives won last week’s snap election.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“The sorry story of the last three years will be at an end and we can move forward,” Johnson said in parliament before the vote.<\/p>\n
A referendum three and a half years ago resulted in a majority voting for Britain to leave the bloc.<\/p>\n
“[The bill] paves the path for a new agreement on our future relationship with our European neighbours based on an ambitious free-trade agreement,” Johnson added.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The bill cements Johnson’s election promises to formally begin Brexit on January 31 and to negotiate an agreement on future relations with the EU by the end of next year.<\/p>\n
“Now is the moment to come together and write a new and exciting chapter in our national story, to forge a new partnership with our European friends, to stand tall in the world, to begin the healing for which the whole people of this country yearn,” he said.<\/p>\n
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition Labour Party, said before the vote that his party would not support the bill, saying: “We remain certain there is a better and fairer way for this country to leave the European Union.”<\/p>\n
\ndpa
\n<\/div>\n