Today, Thursday October 31’s long-signalled deadline for the UK to depart the European Union has arrived without the Brexit beginning it so long heralded. On Monday, European Union members agreed to postpone Brexit for up to three months, setting a new departure deadline of January 31 2020 with the proviso that an earlier date will be accommodated if the UK ratifies a withdrawal agreement in the interim.
The following day British Prime Minister Boris Johnson secured House of Commons support for the holding of a General Election on December 12 on a 438-20 vote, declaring that an election was necessary in order to “get Brexit done”. On Monday Mr Johnson wrote to European Council President Donal Tusk confirming the UK’s formal agreement to the extension. The British Prime Minister described the extension as an unwanted prolongation that was damaging British democracy and his country’s relationship with….
