British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is on the verge of getting Brexit done. (Credit: AP)
More than three years after the UK voted to leave the European Union, lawmakers in Britain have approved the country's departure from the bloc.
The passing of the EU Bill paves the way for the UK to leave the bloc on 31 January, but its passage through parliament wasn't seamless.
The upper chamber of parliament, known as the House of Lords, voted for several changes to the bill – including around the rights of EU citizens after Brexit, the power and independence of UK courts and allowing unaccompanied children who have a relative in the UK to seek asylum in the country.
But, lawmakers in the House of Commons – the elected body in British parliament – decided to reject the amendments and voted through the original bill.
The overwhelming rejection of the Lords' changes signifies the power that Boris Johnson currently wields in the Commons, thanks to the hefty majority he won in last month's snap election.
But, the agreement's passage through parliament shows Johnson can expect scrutiny and opposition in the Lords, where his governing party doesn't have a majority.
As for the bill, it now requires sign-off from the Queen, known as Royal Assent, before it becomes law, but that is a formality which happens automatically.
The House of Lords voted for several changes to the EU Bill which were rejected by the House of Commons. (Credit: AFP)
The EU is expected to approve the agreement in the coming days too, before the European Parliament debates the issue on 29 January.
As he promised when he first entered Downing Street, Boris Johnson is on the verge of getting Brexit done - or at least the first stage of formally leaving the EU.
But, there remain real challenges for his government and his leadership in the months and years ahead.
Top of the list is a free-trade deal with the EU, which the UK government thinks it can thrash out in 11 months, despite both the EU and most analysts viewing the deadline for the transition period as too optimistic.
Comments this week by the United States' Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in Davos show there will also be the added pressure of securing a trade deal with other countries concurrently, which could hinder Britain's negotiations with its largest trading partner.
Perhaps more worrying for the Prime Minister will be keeping together a union much closer to home. In his comments on the EU Bill passing through Parliament, the PM said he hopes the UK "can put the rancour and division of the past three years behind us" and "move forwards as one United Kingdom."
As he has done since his election victory, the PM is again calling for the UK to remain united and focusing his rhetoric on spreading prosperity to all corners of the Kingdom.
Delivering Brexit is likely to increase calls for Irish reunification, with Belfast set to feel the most impact from Britain's departure. (Credit: AP)
But calls for Scottish independence will linger. Having recently rejected a request from Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for the country's devolved parliament to get the ball rolling on a second independence referendum, Boris Johnson knows this is an issue that won't go away.
And further west in Northern Ireland, delivering Brexit is likely to increase calls for Irish reunification, with Belfast set to feel the most impact from Britain's departure, given that it shares the country's only land border with the EU.
The UK is set to cross the "Brexit finish line" next week, but the impact of its departure from the bloc will be felt for years to come.