Brexit vote setback for Boris Johnson in Parliament

By Rob Picheta, CNN

Updated 7:44 a.m. ET, October 21, 2019

What we're covering here

What's happening with Brexit? UK lawmakers just voted to put off a decision on the Prime Minister’s deal, forcing him to ask the EU for another Brexit delay.
What is the Letwin amendment? The measure was proposed by Oliver Letwin, an MP who was booted out of the Conservative parliamentary party last month by Boris Johnson when he supported anti no-deal legislation known as the Benn Act. The amendment called for lawmakers to "withhold support" from Johnson's plan until all of the legislation required to implement the bill is passed by Parliament as well.
Does this mean Brexit’s delayed? Johnson is legally obliged to request a Brexit extension from the European Union if he can't pass his plan by 11 p.m. local time tonight (6 p.m. ET).
Will we get a vote on Boris Johnson's deal next week? That's unclear at this stage. It could happen on Monday but a decision won't be taken until then.

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3:54 a.m. ET, October 19, 2019

Does Boris Johnson have the numbers?

Boris Johnson's battle to pass his Brexit deal is certain to come down to just a few votes. There are three crucial blocs of lawmakers in play:

Hardline Conservatives: There are 28 self-styled "Spartans" -- hardline Conservative MPs who voted down Theresa May's deal all three times, and back a hard Brexit. A handful of those are now on the government's payroll, so are almost certain to back the deal. And some, including European Research Group (ERG) head Steve Baker, have signaled a willingness to back the plan once they've picked through it in more detail. But they're not a totally homogeneous block, and even a couple of holdouts could spell doom for Johnson.
Ex-Conservative independents: Johnson took the whip away from 21 Conservative MPs last month, after they voted to block a no-deal Brexit. Many of them are expected to back the deal now, while a handful who support a second referendum are likely noes. But some, including former Cabinet members Amber Rudd, Philip Hammond and Ken Clarke, haven't said which way they'll vote yet.
Labour rebels: Five Labour MPs backed Theresa May's deal, but as many as 20 could be up for grabs this time. With an election looming and several of these lawmakers representing Leave-voting regions, they could make the calculation that backing a Brexit deal is vital to electoral success. What's more, there's been no sign that Jeremy Corbyn will expel those who support the government.

Johnson appears to have won over most of the hardliners, and a number of independents also seem to have been swayed. It could all come down to how many Labour MPs he can convince; around 10 could be enough.

3:38 a.m. ET, October 19, 2019

Getting a deal was the easy part. Now comes the difficult bit

Analysis from CNN's Luke McGee

Welcome to what might be one of the most important days in British political history.

Earlier this week, Boris Johnson did the near impossible and secured a new Brexit deal from the European Union.

Astonishingly, after months of saying that Theresa May's deal could not be changed, the EU shocked everyone by throwing out the controversial Irish border backstop and replacing it with an alternative plan, cooked up by team Johnson.

Even more astonishingly, EU leaders seem happy with this deal and have been effusive about Johnson -- the man with whom they dreaded negotiating.

However impressive Johnson's Brussels victory might be, securing it could turn out to be the easiest bit of the Brexit process.

The UK Parliament is sitting on a Saturday for the first time in decades, where lawmakers will give Johnson the thumbs up or thumbs down. The immediate fallout of that vote could have profound consequences for the future of the United Kingdom.

3:34 a.m. ET, October 19, 2019

It's Super Saturday

After three and a half years of agonising debate, Saturday could be the day that Brexit is secured.

Boris Johnson is bringing his new deal to a vote in Parliament in an emergency Saturday sitting -- just the fifth time in history that lawmakers have met on the weekend.

And unlike Theresa May, he might just have the numbers to pass it.

If he doesn't, all hell breaks loose -- with Johnson mandated by law to request a Brexit delay, and a winter general election becoming very likely.

If he does, Britain will be set to leave the EU in just a few days' time on October 31.

Meanwhile, an amendment to the bill has the potential to change everything, and leave us all scratching our heads for another few days.

Either way, prepare for a passionate debate and a razor-tight vote on Super Saturday.