London, Dec. 20, 2019 (AltAfrica)-After three defeats, Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal has cleared its first Commons hurdle with a thumping majority of 124, putting the UK on course to leave the EU on 31 January.

The withdrawal agreement bill – stripped of powers for MPs to avert the risk of a no-deal Brexit at the end of 2020 and scrutinise the future EU trade deal – was given its second reading.

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It will now be given detailed scrutiny at its committee stage early in the New Year, but is not expected to be amended significantly before passing into law next month.

© Provided by The IndependentThe result was not in doubt, after Mr Johnson won an 80-strong majority at last week’s election, but the size of the victory hinting at around 30 Labour abstentions or absentees.

The prime minister’s relaxed approach to the vote – despite its seismic implications – was underlined by him autographing copies of the bill for several Conservative MPs, in the chamber.

Earlier, Mr Johnson urged MPs voters to ditch the labels ‘Leave’ and “Remain’, with the fight to keep the UK in the EU buried by his election landslide.

“We come together as a new parliament to break the deadlock and finally to get Brexit done,” he told MPs.