What does it mean that Parliament voted yes?
- It confirms that the UK will leave the EU on 31 January, and that was a fully expected result given the outcome of the election. It shows what a difference Boris Johnson's vast majority makes for politics. We have become accustomed to voting in Parliament becoming real nail-biting, but this time it was a "walkover" for Johnson.
What happens now?
- The next step comes after Christmas, when the upper house needs to vote through the law before the queen gives her approval. But this is mostly a formality. The European Parliament will also vote on the agreement, and the EU Parliament's Brexit Manager Guy Verhofstadt has said he wants to see more guarantees for EU citizens in the UK and Britons in the EU before giving their approval. But few believe it will not go through.
Is this the same version of Brexit that the British Parliament previously voted for?- This version of the law differs in some respects from the one Johnson previously sought to pass through Parliament - the previous version included guarantees on workers' rights, refugee children and the ability of Parliament to examine the future agreement with the EU. These guarantees are now gone because Johnson no longer has to compromise with the opposition and limit himself.
Who are the winners and losers?
- The winner is Boris Johnson and those who wanted to get a Brexit with as few conditions as possible. Now Boris Johnson gets free reins. In the long run, the losers are all those who hoped that Brexit would be canceled. The vote confirms that hope is out for them. But even those who wanted a Brexit with guarantees about labor law and the reception of refugee children were disappointed today.