Boris Johnson resumes push to get Brexit deal through parliament

Boris Johnson's Brexit deal has returned to the Commons, as the government resumes its efforts to leave the EU by the end of the month.

MPs have sat one of three days of detailed debate on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, with the House potentially sitting late into the night.

The legislation passed its second reading in a vote just before Christmas.

Opposition parties put forward a number of amendments to the bill, but none of them succeeded on Tuesday night, thanks to the large Conservative majority.

Motions which were voted down included a clause to establish the right to appeal settled status decisions, and one which would have provided the right of permanent residence to all EU citizens living in the UK before 31 January.

The legislation will complete its remaining stages in the Commons by the end of business on Thursday.

The bill would then go to the Lords next week, with ministers confident of getting it through parliament in enough time to allow the European Parliament to ratify the deal in time for Brexit day on 31 January.

During the debate, Steve Barclay, the Brexit secretary, reiterated the government's commitment not to extend the implementation period beyond December 2020.

He said: "The reality is on December 12 the British public voted in overwhelming numbers to get Brexit by done by January 31 and to conclude the implementation period by December 2020 so we can look forward to a bright future as an independent nation.

"Page 5 of our manifesto explicitly states that we will negotiate a trade agreement by next year, one that will strengthen our union and we will not extend the implementation period beyond December 2020."

Home Office Minister Brandon Lewis also announced government plans to roll out a new border and immigration system which could do away with the need for physical documentation.

He said: "Eventually, all migrants, not just those from the EU, but also from the rest of world will only have digital status so this amendment would impede our ability to deliver this improved equal, fair digital status."

But the SNP warned against such a move, with immigration spokesman Stuart McDonald warning that it might lead to another Windrush scandal.

Mr McDonald countered: "How many in here would be happy to rely exclusively on a piece of Government digital code in an online system as the sole means of evidencing your right to live, to work or study here or anywhere else?"

The agreement struck between London and Brussels covers citizens' rights, the Irish border and Britain's so-called "divorce bill" of around £30bn.

An exit at the end of the month will mark the start of an 11-month transition period, which will see the UK continue to follow EU rules.

During this time, both sides will attempt to negotiate a free trade agreement and sort out the terms of Britain's future relationship with the bloc.

Senior figures on the EU side have expressed scepticism that this can be done in such a short timeframe, given the complexity and scope of trade negotiations.

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But Mr Johnson has insisted he will not ask for any extension to the transition period, sparking fears among his opponents of a possible no-deal Brexit at the end of 2020.

Indeed, the PM beefed up the legislation in the wake of his election victory, prohibiting any extension at the end of December.