In the wake of a dramatic incident that saw Boris Johnson struggling in the House of Commons, the press hesitated between respect for the popular vote and the desire to avoid a divorce without agreement.
The hope of part of the British to endorse the Brexit, which has dominated news across the Channel for three years now, once again flew Saturday, October 19, after a rich day in the House of Commons.
The agreement reached between Boris Johnson and the Europeans was not put to the vote, much to the chagrin of the prime minister, defeated by MPs as Theresa May has been three times before him. Blame it on Oliver Letwin, an ex-Conservative MP and his amendment (passed with 322 votes in favor, 306 against) suspending the approval of the agreement until all the necessary implementing laws are passed. An "insurance policy" insures Mr. Letwin, against an accidental "no deal". A situation summarized by the Sunday Mail, a Scottish newspaper, for which Letwin (here "Ollie") puts Boris Johnson in a "Nice brothel".
Letwin can assure itself that it is in favor of this agreement and that its intention is to ensure that the country is properly emerging from the European Union. Mail on Sunday regretted the absence of a substantive vote on the agreement, insisting, like the Government, on the need to move forward "To heal his wounds".
Same story on the side of the Sunday Expressfor whom the reaction of the elected members of the House of Commons is incomprehensible, and speaks of a "Dramatic day" during which "The deputies defied the public by rejecting the Brexit agreement". The English tabloid particularly targets the attitude of Labor Jeremy Corbin, guilty of rejecting Brexit for "Keep the UK in the European Union for years". The pro-Brexit newspaper echoes the fears about the British economy fueled by'Uncertainty' linked to Brexit.
North of Hadrian's Wall, the Scotland on Sunday title on the Prime Minister's dodge, both "Defeated" But "Defying" the vote of the deputies by sending to Brussels two contradictory letters, one that the law requires him to send but that he did not sign, the other to ask his European counterparts not to accept additional time for Brexit . And the newspaper pointed out, despite the internal political defeat: "Few believed when he said he could reopen negotiations with the EU, let alone believe he would abandon the Irish backstop. "
For The Observer, Sunday newspaper of the group of GuardianAs for a part of the Europhile English press, the adoption of the Letwin amendment is, on the other hand, a "Humiliation" for Mr. Johnson, who recognizes him "Little skill" to have returned to Brussels and come back with "An agreement even worse than that of Theresa May".
The Independent For its part, it chose to focus on the nearly one million protesters on the streets of London to demand that the last word of Brexit be given by the people, through a second referendum. The newspaper, which considers the Letwin amendment as "Judicious", also notes the "Double humiliation" for the prime minister, who faces possible lawsuits for contradicting his request for extension of the deadline to the European leaders.
