GOT BREXIT DONE
Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal backed by MPs and Britain is set to leave the EU in 42 days
BRITAIN is officially on its way to leaving the EU on January 31 today after MPs finally backed Boris Johnson's Brexit deal by a huge majority of 124.
There were loud cheers across the chamber as MPs opted by 358 - 234 to deliver the new deal after three years of dithering and delay.
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Excited Tory politicians took snaps of the packed voting lobbies today - some of them walking through for the first time.
Fresh with his whopping majority, the timetable motion passed through too, so the Bill will be finished off in the New Year.
Boris was seen in the Commons signing copies of the Bill earlier as MPs celebrated finally getting on with leaving the EU.
Six Labour MPs backed the Brexit deal too - Sarah Champion, Rosie Cooper, Jon Cruddas, Emma Lewell-Buck, Grahame Morris, and Toby Perkins.
A further 32 Labour MPs defied Jeremy Corbyn by not voting at all - including a handful of his own shadow cabinet members.
The PM earlier demanded that Brits cast off the labels of Leave and Remain as MPs so the country can come back together once again.
He told MPs this morning: "We can come together as a Parliament, break the deadlock, and get Brexit done.
"Now is the moment to reunite the country.
"This is the time to move on and discard the labels of leave and remain.
"History will recall the first act of this new Parliament was to find a way through...
"Now is the moment to come together and write the new chapter in our nation's history.
"Now is the time to stand tall in the world."
Boris' huge 80-seat majority means he'll be able to start delivering on his promise to get Brexit done as soon as possible, so we can be out by January 31 next year.
Today's historic vote means Boris has delivered on his promise to get Brexit wrapped up as much as possible before Christmas.
The Government has carved out a few days in the New Year for MPs to scrutinise, debate it, and turn it into law.
We can come together as a Parliament, break the deadlock, and get Brexit done.
Boris Johnson
A handful of other laws also need to be passed before the end of January so Britain can leave on time.
Boris said today that he would not extend the transition period any longer than the end of next year, so "Brexit will be done, it will be over".
He added: "The sorry story of the last three and a half years will be over, and we will be able to move on together."
The PM joked: "The oven is on, set to Gas Mark 4 - we can have it done by lunchtime."
LABOUR ADMIT BREXIT DEFEAT
Meanwhile,Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said the Leave/Remain argument would soon be over - and Brexit WOULD happen despite his intensive campaigning against it.
Finishing the debate in the Commons today, he said: "As a result of the general election and the result of the majority the Government has got and the mandate the Government's got we're leaving the EU.
"We will have left the EU within the next six months.
"Whatever side we were on, or no side at all, the Leave/Remain argument goes with it."
TIME FOR CHANGE
Because of the PM's huge win last week, he's been able to make some changes to the bill before pushing it through the Commons.
Boris and Theresa May both were forced to make concessions to other parties to try and get their support for the Brexit law - but ultimately failed anyway.
It strips down protection for refugee children - the so-called Dubs amendment named after Lord Dubs who fled the Nazis when he was six.
And some workers' rights have been taken out too, with the Government promising they will come in a new employment bill next year.
MPs will also lose their rights to approve objectives for Britain's trade relationship with the EU - and will be unable to extend the transition period again if a deal isn't secured.
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The Bill will still face opposition in the House of Lords - where Remainers outnumber Brexiteers - but the PM should be able to veto their changes thanks to his large majority.
A Government spokesperson said: "We are committed to ensuring that children who are claiming asylum or international protection will be reunited with specified family members in the EU and vice versa.
"The government’s policy on child refugees has not changed and we will continue to do all we can to enable children to claim asylum and be reunited with their families."
Yesterday No10 confirmed the Brexit department will close down on January 31.
Mr Johnson said the passage of the WAB would “mark the start of a new decade where the UK will champion trade, innovation and science”.
Boris Johnson vows Brexit is just ‘hours’ away and Britain can finally move on after ‘3 sorry years’ of delay
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