The UK general election has just taken place and has produced a
more decisive result than expected, with Conservative Prime
Minister Boris Johnson gaining a substantial majority of seats in
the House of Commons. This has immediate implications for
Brexit.
It means, first of all, that there is little chance now of a
second referendum on whether the UK should leave the European Union
(EU). Instead, the UK is likely to withdraw from the institutions
of the EU as early as 31 January 2020.
Also important is the manner in which the UK will depart the EU.
Throughout much of 2019 there was widespread concern that the UK
would leave without a Withdrawal Agreement. Now the new version of
the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated by the Prime Minister in
October is likely to be ratified by the UK and EU parliaments
before the end of January.
