Brexit: a pivotal week?
The Briefing Room
BBC
4.8 • 731 Ratings
🗓️ 24 October 2019
⏱️ 29 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
MPs voted in favour of the government's Brexit deal but then rejected the PM's plan to fast-track a bill through Parliament to implement it.
Opposition to the deal is still strong in some quarters.
Northern Ireland’s DUP withdrew its support for because it would lead to a customs border in the Irish Sea. The Scottish and Welsh governments believe it could undermine the powers of their devolved legislatures.
So what could this deal mean for the future of the United Kingdom? And what might it mean for the future relationship between the UK and the EU? And could Brexit still be derailed by groups which are implacably opposed to it?
David Aaronovitch is joined by:
Jill Rutter - Senior Research Fellow, UK in a Changing Europe Rob Ford - Professor of Politics, University of Manchester Sam Lowe - Senior research fellow, Centre for European Reform Alison Young - Professor of Public Law, University of Cambridge Sam McBride - Political editor at The Belfast News Letter
Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Jasper Corbett
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:10.3 | Welcome to the briefing room with me, David O'Ronovich. |
| 0:13.3 | In this subterranean room, we're joined by the world's leading experts who, in the next half hour, |
| 0:18.5 | can tell us everything we might want to know about one of the |
| 0:21.2 | big issues of the day. Today, we're at the end of another tumultuous, almost incomprehensible week |
| 0:27.4 | in the UK Parliament, and even by Brexit standards, it's been a roller coaster ride of |
| 0:32.4 | Piric victories and crushing defeats. So this week, we're asking exactly where we're up to now |
| 0:39.1 | and whether it's true that Brexit is simply a matter of when, not if. |
| 0:43.6 | And if you enjoy this podcast, you might enjoy some of our other episodes, |
| 0:47.3 | including ones on vaping, vaccinations, |
| 0:49.9 | and the impeachment of Donald Trump. |
| 0:52.0 | You can find them all on BBC Sounds. |
| 1:04.6 | Music and the impeachment of Donald Trump. You can find them all on BBC Sounds. It's like this. |
| 1:06.5 | The European Union and the British government |
| 1:08.6 | have concluded a withdrawal agreement, or W.A concluded a withdrawal agreement or W.A. |
| 1:12.6 | This week, that W.A., now a bill and therefore the WAB, was passed for further discussion and amendment. |
| 1:19.6 | Victory for government. |
| 1:21.6 | But... |
| 1:22.6 | The government wanted to do the whole thing in three days and Parliament said no. |
| 1:26.6 | Defeat for government. |
| 1:28.3 | Now. |
| 1:29.3 | The European Union is considering Britain's request for an extension past October 31st, |
... |
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