British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has lost every important vote in Parliament since taking office, faces a titanic struggle Saturday when he puts his Brexit deal with the European Union before suspicious legislators.

Johnson is gambling his political fortunes on being able to win a majority in favor of the Brexit deal reached Thursday between the British government and the other 27 European Union nations.

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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he stands alongside European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker during a press point at EU headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. Britain and the European Union reached a new tentative Brexit deal on Thursday, hoping to finally escape the acrimony, divisions and frustration of their three-year divorce battle. (AP PhotoFrancisco Seco)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has lost every important vote in Parliament since taking office, faces a titanic struggle Saturday when he puts his Brexit deal with the European Union before suspicious legislators.
Britain's Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, from left, pose for a photo during a press point at EU headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. Britain and the European Union reached a new tentative Brexit deal on Thursday, hoping to finally escape the acrimony, divisions and frustration of their three-year divorce battle. (AP PhotoFrancisco Seco)

But that's no easy task for Johnson.
Tourists holding umbrellas pass a policeman standing on Westminster Bridge over the River Thames, with the London Eye in the background as rain falls in London, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoAlastair Grant)

One of the main reasons why May saw her own deal with the EU voted down by legislators on three separate occasions earlier this year — by 58 votes the last time — was because members of the so-called European Research Group within the Conservative Party voted against. All but a handful of those ERG members are thought to be ready to give their support to Johnson's deal.
Anti-Brexiteer Steve Bray carries his megaphone past pro Brexit supporters as they shelter from the heavy rain outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoAlastair Grant)

Juncker and Johnson seem to be gambling that widespread concerns about a "no-deal" split, which the British government concedes would cause a marked economic slowdown and possible food and medicine shortages, may soften opposition to the new plan.
Pro and anti Brexit demonstrators shelter from the heavy rain underneath a tree outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoAlastair Grant)

Unless Northern Ireland's DUP has a change of heart, the deal's fate could largely rest on members from the main opposition Labour Party, which has 244 members. Around 20 of them, mainly representing pro-Brexit parts of the country, have previously indicated a desire to back a deal in order to honor the June 2016 Brexit referendum result.
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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he stands alongside European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker during a press point at EU headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. Britain and the European Union reached a new tentative Brexit deal on Thursday, hoping to finally escape the acrimony, divisions and frustration of their three-year divorce battle. (AP PhotoFrancisco Seco)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has lost every important vote in Parliament since taking office, faces a titanic struggle Saturday when he puts his Brexit deal with the European Union before suspicious legislators.

Britain's Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, from left, pose for a photo during a press point at EU headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. Britain and the European Union reached a new tentative Brexit deal on Thursday, hoping to finally escape the acrimony, divisions and frustration of their three-year divorce battle. (AP PhotoFrancisco Seco)

But that's no easy task for Johnson.

Tourists holding umbrellas pass a policeman standing on Westminster Bridge over the River Thames, with the London Eye in the background as rain falls in London, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoAlastair Grant)

One of the main reasons why May saw her own deal with the EU voted down by legislators on three separate occasions earlier this year — by 58 votes the last time — was because members of the so-called European Research Group within the Conservative Party voted against. All but a handful of those ERG members are thought to be ready to give their support to Johnson's deal.

Anti-Brexiteer Steve Bray carries his megaphone past pro Brexit supporters as they shelter from the heavy rain outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoAlastair Grant)

Juncker and Johnson seem to be gambling that widespread concerns about a "no-deal" split, which the British government concedes would cause a marked economic slowdown and possible food and medicine shortages, may soften opposition to the new plan.

Pro and anti Brexit demonstrators shelter from the heavy rain underneath a tree outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoAlastair Grant)

Unless Northern Ireland's DUP has a change of heart, the deal's fate could largely rest on members from the main opposition Labour Party, which has 244 members. Around 20 of them, mainly representing pro-Brexit parts of the country, have previously indicated a desire to back a deal in order to honor the June 2016 Brexit referendum result.

Should lawmakers back the deal, then Britain will be on course to leave the EU on the scheduled Brexit date of Oct. 31.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he stands alongside European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker during a press point at EU headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. Britain and the European Union reached a new tentative Brexit deal on Thursday, hoping to finally escape the acrimony, divisions and frustration of their three-year divorce battle. (AP PhotoFrancisco Seco)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he stands alongside European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker during a press point at EU headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. Britain and the European Union reached a new tentative Brexit deal on Thursday, hoping to finally escape the acrimony, divisions and frustration of their three-year divorce battle. (AP PhotoFrancisco Seco)

But that's no easy task for Johnson.

With 288 members in the House of Commons, his Conservative Party does not have a majority in the 650-member chamber. As a result, Johnson will be reliant on the support of those from other parties and independent lawmakers to get over the line. That's even more difficult now that Johnson's allies in Parliament, the 10 members of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, have rejected his deal as bad for the region.

Arguably Johnson has a better chance of getting his deal over the line than his predecessor, Theresa May, did, as many pro-Brexit Conservative Party members appear ready to back him.

Britain's Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, from left, pose for a photo during a press point at EU headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. Britain and the European Union reached a new tentative Brexit deal on Thursday, hoping to finally escape the acrimony, divisions and frustration of their three-year divorce battle. (AP PhotoFrancisco Seco)

Britain's Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, from left, pose for a photo during a press point at EU headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. Britain and the European Union reached a new tentative Brexit deal on Thursday, hoping to finally escape the acrimony, divisions and frustration of their three-year divorce battle. (AP PhotoFrancisco Seco)

One of the main reasons why May saw her own deal with the EU voted down by legislators on three separate occasions earlier this year — by 58 votes the last time — was because members of the so-called European Research Group within the Conservative Party voted against. All but a handful of those ERG members are thought to be ready to give their support to Johnson's deal.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the EU's executive Commission, piled more pressure on British lawmakers by suggesting that no further extension needs to be granted now that there is a deal.

Though that power lies in the hands of the 27 EU leaders, his comments appeared designed to cast Saturday's vote as a stark choice for UK legislators — between Johnson's proposal or a risky "no-deal" departure on Oct. 31. Scrapping Brexit altogether is another — albeit unlikely — option favored by the pro-European Liberal Democrats.

Tourists holding umbrellas pass a policeman standing on Westminster Bridge over the River Thames, with the London Eye in the background as rain falls in London, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoAlastair Grant)

Tourists holding umbrellas pass a policeman standing on Westminster Bridge over the River Thames, with the London Eye in the background as rain falls in London, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoAlastair Grant)

Juncker and Johnson seem to be gambling that widespread concerns about a "no-deal" split, which the British government concedes would cause a marked economic slowdown and possible food and medicine shortages, may soften opposition to the new plan.

Kallum Pickering, senior economist at Berenberg, said Juncker's comments "on balance probably raises the chances for Boris Johnson to get a deal through" by convincing some opposition legislators that backing the plan is the only way to avoid a dangerous "no-deal" split.

"Johnson has a chance but it is going to be tight," Pickering said.

Anti-Brexiteer Steve Bray carries his megaphone past pro Brexit supporters as they shelter from the heavy rain outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoAlastair Grant)

Anti-Brexiteer Steve Bray carries his megaphone past pro Brexit supporters as they shelter from the heavy rain outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoAlastair Grant)

Unless Northern Ireland's DUP has a change of heart, the deal's fate could largely rest on members from the main opposition Labour Party, which has 244 members. Around 20 of them, mainly representing pro-Brexit parts of the country, have previously indicated a desire to back a deal in order to honor the June 2016 Brexit referendum result.

Most Labour members will vote against after the party's leader Jeremy Corbyn expressed his disapproval of the deal. The Scottish National Party's 36 members and the 19 Liberal Democrats will vote against too.

London School of Economics analyst Tony Travers said Johnson will also need the support of some of the Conservative Party members who had been punished for voting against the government in earlier Brexit votes.

Pro and anti Brexit demonstrators shelter from the heavy rain underneath a tree outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoAlastair Grant)

Pro and anti Brexit demonstrators shelter from the heavy rain underneath a tree outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019. (AP PhotoAlastair Grant)

"It is going to be much, much tighter than any of Theresa May's votes," he predicted of Saturday's faceoff. "It's going to be three, four, five (votes) either way."

Another potential complication in Saturday's vote may come if opposition lawmakers try to amend the proposal so that approval could only come if the public support the deal in a referendum. The EU has previously indicated that it would grant an extension for a so-called "democratic event."

David Lammy, a lawmaker with the opposition Labour Party, played down the significance of Juncker's comments.

"It is not within Jean-Claude Juncker's powers to rule out an extension if we vote down Boris Johnson's deal on Saturday," Lammy tweeted. "It's up to the Council of EU27 leaders who will grant an extension."

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