What is the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill?

BORIS Johnson is hoping to get the Withdrawal Agreement Bill passed through Parliament after securing his Tory majority following a snap election.

The bill is the Brexit deal between the UK Government and the other 27 member states of the European Union. Here is everything you need to know.

What is the Withdrawal Agreement Bill?

It is the legislation required to turn the leaving deal struck with the EU into law so Brexit can happen.

The terms on which the UK will leave the EU has been agreed between Boris Johnson's Government and the other 27 member states.

Theresa May's Government got to the same stage.

She failed to win backing in Parliament for the settlement which she had negotiated.

But Johnson hopes to turn the agreement into legislation after securing the approval from the House of Commons.

When do MPs next vote on Boris Johnson’s Withdrawal Agreement Bill?

MPs will vote on the Prime Minister's Withdrawal Agreement Bill on Friday, December 20.

The results of the Commons vote is expected at about 3pm, according to the BBC.

It could be debated and voted on at first and second reading in one day, if the Speaker agrees to the timetable.

Because the Conservative Party holds a majority of MPs in the Commons, it is expected to be voted through before it is made law in the House of Lords.

The Government begins its push to take Britain out of the European Union on January 31, which is the third Brexit deadline extension.

What happened when MPs voted on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill in October 2019?

MPs finally backed Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal on October 22 — then wrecked it within minutes by rejecting his three-day timetable to push it through Parliament.

The defeat, triggered when nine former Tories voted against the Government, ended the PM’s hope of an October 31 exit.

Theresa May, the previous Conservative Prime Minister got to the same stage with her agreement but failed to get the backing of Parliament.

As a result, Johnson called a snap election which was held on December 12 – giving the Tory Party leader the majority he needed in Parliament.

The EU  also granted the UK another extension on to pass a Brexit deal, but warned this was final one.

What does the Withdrawal Agreement contain?

It sets out how the UK will make the divorce payments requested by the EU over what it says are the UK’s outstanding commitments it previously signed up to.

The full 110-page document – along with another 126 pages of explanatory notes – was finally published on October 21, 2019, at 8pm.

The Bill ensures parts of EU law are complied with in the UK while the post-Brexit transition period lasts.

It sets out the controversial plan for Northern Ireland and its relationship both with the rest of Ireland as well as the UK.

Another fraught area is the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and making some areas of its judgements “supreme” over other aspects of UK law.

The Bill is meant to “implement, and make other provision in connection with, the agreement between the United Kingdom and the EU” over Brexit – essentially making Mr Johnson's deal legally binding.

The transition period would, under the Bill, last until the end of 2020.

This could be extended by up to two years more by ministers, if required.

Any proposed extension though would need the approval of parliament.

A good chunk of the bill concerns itself with the future situation of Northern Ireland.

Under the proposed deal Northern Ireland would remain tied to the EU's customs arrangements.

However, the explanatory notes states the bill "provides arrangements that ensure that the UK (including Northern Ireland) does not remain in a customs union with the EU".

Mr Johnson's deal does mean the UK would pay the so-called "divorce bill" which has been estimated at £39billion.

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It states: “Any sum that is required to be paid to the EU or an EU entity to meet any obligation that the United Kingdom has by virtue of the withdrawal agreement is to be charged on and paid out of the consolidated fund or, if the Treasury so decides, the national loans fund.”

The proposed deal also secures workers' rights, saying any rights that come from EU law, will remain as part of UK law.

Any concerns that measures such as the working time directive, could be repealed at a later date are waylaid with a statement of "non-regression" over the legislation.

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