(AP) — British lawmakers have voted to postpone a decision on whether to back a Brexit deal with the European Union, throwing a wrench into government plans to leave the bloc at the end of this month.
At a special session of Parliament intended to ratify the deal, lawmakers instead voted 322-306 to withhold their approval until legislation to implement the agreement has been passed.
The vote is a major blow to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and means he has to ask the EU to delay Britain’s departure — although he has told MPs he will not do so.
Parliament previously passed a law compelling him to do that if a deal had not been passed by Saturday.
The move is intended to ensure the UK can’t leave the EU without a deal on the scheduled Oct. 31 departure date.
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