UK Parliament Passes Law Blocking No-Deal Brexit on Oct. 31

The United Kingdom Parliament recently enacted a law that aims to block a no-deal Brexit on Oct. 31. Given royal assent by Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 9, the law requires that the U.K. prime minister request an extension from the European Union on Oct. 19 that delays Brexit until Jan. 31, 2020, unless the U.K. Parliament approves a Brexit transition deal or votes to leave the EU with no deal, a BBC report said. The transition deal negotiated by the previous U.K. government under Theresa May was rejected three times (see 1903290039). According to the BBC, it is possible that current Prime Minister Boris Johnson could attempt to ignore the letter of the law or its intent. Repealing the law at this point is unlikely given the makeup of the House of Commons, but that could change if there’s a general election before Oct. 19. U.K. opposition parties have so far rejected that idea, which would require a two-thirds vote in Parliament, said a report in The Guardian. The EU would also have to approve any extension, the BBC said.