Brexit bill clears final UK parliamentary hurdle in the House of Lords ahead of Jan. 31 departure

A view of the interior of the House of Lords as the European Withdrawal Agreement Bill is debated in London on January 21, 2020. (AFP)

• PM Boris Johnson refused to accept any changes to Withdrawal Agreement Bil
• Royal Assent from Queen Elizabeth II could happen as early as Thursday

LONDON: The UK moved a step closer to its Jan. 31 exit from the European Union when the legislation required to ratify its deal with Brussels passed its final stage in parliament on Wednesday.
The bill will officially become law when it receives Royal Assent from Queen Elizabeth, something that could happen as soon as Thursday.
Earlier on Wednesday, the lower house of parliament, the House of Commons overturned changes the upper house, the House of Lords, had made to the legislation, including a clause to ensure protections for child refugees after Brexit.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson had refused to accept any changes to the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which will enact Britain’s departure from the EU, facing down opposition lawmakers who say he has hardened its terms.
The Lords could have sought to reinstate the changes, but opted not to, allowing the legislation to clear its final hurdle.
Johnson’s Conservatives won a large majority in the House of Commons in a general election last month, enabling the government to bring an end to more than three years of wrangling in parliament over Britain’s EU exit.