In a historic Saturday session for UK parliament, the first since the Falklands war, today British lawmakers were supposed to vote on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal which last week received approval from the EU, and which sent the pound soaring amid speculation that a Brexit deal was actually close to passing. Instead, in the latest embarrassment to Johnson, moments ago UK lawmakers instead voted to put off a decision on the Prime Minister’s deal, forcing him to ask the EU for another Brexit delay.

The measure, also known, as the Letwin amendment, was proposed by Oliver Letwin, an MP who was booted out of the Conservative parliamentary party last month by Boris Johnson when he supported anti no-deal legislation known as the Benn Act. The amendment – which received the support of the Northern Irish DUP party in the last minute – called for the House to “withhold support” from Johnson’s plan until all of the legislation required to implement the bill is passed by Parliament as well.

And so with DUP support, the measure passed 322 to 306 effectively freezing the Brexit process once again, as Johnson is now legally obliged to request a Brexit extension from the EU if he can’t pass his plan by 11 p.m. local time tonight (6 p.m. ET), which he can’t.

MPs approve Letwin amendment to the Brexit deal

This amendment delays approval of the deal until the necessary legislation is passed

Ayes: 322
Noes: 306
Majority: 16

Live updates: https://t.co/gQkqnzl6R4 #BrexitVote pic.twitter.com/lfsqqiw5pU

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) October 19, 2019

Having just come back from Europe – ostensibly with a deal in tow and with Belgium saying no more delays are feasible – Boris Johnson will now have to once again ask the EU to delay the Brexit process.

Perhaps not surprisingly, a defiant Johnson has struck back and is now refusing to comply with the latest parliamentary vote, and the Prime Minister’s office is now saying that “Parliament has voted to delay brexit yet again. The PM will not ask for an extension – he will tell EU leaders there should be no delays, they should reject Parliament’s letter asking for a delay, and we should get Brexit done on October 31 with our new deal.”

Boris Johnson says the opportunity to have a meaningful Brexit vote "has been passed up"

UK PM says he's not "daunted or dismayed" by MPs backing Letwin amendment, saying he "will not negotiate a delay to Brexit"https://t.co/VAzJ7IQqgO #BrexitVote pic.twitter.com/Z8yqI2Uxgy

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) October 19, 2019

Boris Johnson remains defiant after MPs back Brexit deal delay!https://t.co/O5tubS2Ahu

— Metro (@MetroUK) October 19, 2019

As ITV’s Robert Peston notes, “BorisJohnson ⁩ will characterise the request for a three-month Brexit delay as coming from parliament, not from him as government head. And he will reiterate to EU leaders that he does not want a delay” with questions emerging if this is legal.

Downing St makes clear that ⁦@BorisJohnson⁩ will characterise the request for a three-month Brexit delay as coming from parliament, not from him as government head. And he will reiterate to EU leaders that he does not want a delay. Is this lawful? The Court of Session… pic.twitter.com/c6UfkNvK0z

— Robert Peston (@Peston) October 19, 2019

As the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg adds, now that today’s deal vote has been iced, BoJo confirms next week the government will put the bill of the whole deal in front of MPs – and confirms that he will make clear that he will still try to avoid delay, even tho he is legally obliged to ask for one, something the BBC reporter calls a “legal tightrope.”

PM confirms next week govt will put the bill of the whole deal in front of MPs – and confirms that he will make clear that he will still try to avoid delay, even tho he is legally obliged to ask for one – legal tightrope

— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) October 19, 2019

And so, once again the legal wrangling begins:

There is going to be a lot of arguing over what the difference is between asking for a delay and actually negotiating one – Benn Act is not explicit about negotiation but there is important principle at stake of not frustrating the law.

Meanwhile, the fate of Brexit has been tossed back into the arms of the EU, who now have to decide if to accept the UK parliament’s demand for a delay…

🇪🇺🇬🇧 @EU_Commission takes note of the vote in the House of Commons today on the so-called #Letwin Amendment meaning that the #WithdrawalAgreement itself was not put to vote today. It will be for the UK government to inform us about the next steps as soon as possible.

— Mina Andreeva (@Mina_Andreeva) October 19, 2019

… even as a UK court will likely have to opine on whether BoJo can once again ignore the decision of parliament…

But don't all scream at once, No 10 still thinks that they can try to find a way round it – as was always the case wouldn't be surprised if this all ended up back in court before too long…

— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) October 19, 2019

… even as the Conservative party appears to have just walked out…

Tory benches have now emptied….. pic.twitter.com/dVPIsOLx6l

— norman smith (@BBCNormanS) October 19, 2019

… as the usual Brexit chaos has returned.

The Queen of England has approved the new Prime Minister’s Brexit plan. Owen breaks down what this means for other countries that want out of the EU.

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