LONDON - The United Kingdom's parliament is preparing to vote on the Brexit deal agreed between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the European Union.
The 650-seat House of Commons' so-called "Super Saturday" session is expected to deliver a knife-edge decision on the revised withdrawal agreement.
But Johnson's opponents have laid a parliamentary booby trap that could yet frustrate his plans and force him to send members of parliament home without voting on his deal, forcing a further Brexit delay.
Amid the high political drama, the clock continues to tick towards the UK's scheduled departure from the EU on October 31, now less than two weeks away.
Here are the latest updates:
Saturday, October 19
UK gov't focused on defeating amendment, PM's spokesman
The British government is focused on making sure legislators do not back a proposal to withhold support for Johnson's Brexit deal until formal ratification legislation has passed, the Reuters news agency quoted his spokesman as saying.
If the amendment, put forward by former Conservative MP Oliver Letwin, is accepted, parliament will not get to vote on Saturday on whether to approve Johnson's withdrawal agreement.
"We want Members of Parliament to have the opportunity to vote on the deal," the spokesman said. "Our focus is on making sure that the Letwin amendment isn't passed."
Gov't to pull vote if Letwin amendment passes
Al Jazeera's Paul Brennan, reporting from Westminster, said Johnson's "centre of operations" had confirmed the government will pull the vote on his deal if the amendment to the motion put forward by Letwin passes.
The amendment, which if passed would force Johnson to request an extension to Brexit by the end of Saturday, is backed by a cross-party alliance of opposition MPs.
"This amendment would force a delay until legislation can be passed actually implementing the deal," Brennan said.
"It's a rather technical amendment, but it’s designed to prevent the government pulling any fast ones with MPs and going accidentally-on-purpose to a no-deal Brexit on October 31," he added.
Corbyn slams deal as 'disaster for working people'
Main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn told parliament Johnson's deal risks jobs, rights, the environment and health service.
"This deal would be a disaster for working people," he said, adding it was "even worse" than the one it replaces, which was negotiated by Johnson's predecessor, Theresa May, and rejected three times by parliament.
"Voting for a deal today won't end Brexit. It won't deliver certainty and the people should have the final say," Corbyn said.
He had earlier reiterated that Labour MPs would vote against the revised withdrawal agreement in a post on Twitter. (Aljazeera)