Brexit To Begin Again

Brexit bill passed despite desperate bid to block Article 50 from being triggered.

17:06 02 February 2017

Despite a desperate bid to block Article 50 from being triggered, Brexit bill is passed following the endorsement from the Commons. This marks Britain’s point of no return in its historic battle to cut ties with Brussels.

 

The Commons endorsed the legislation by 498 votes to 114. A wrecking amendment that could have effectively killed the law was then defeated by 336 to 100. The votes came after two days of bad-tempered and impassioned debate in parliament.

 

The House then gave the Bill its second reading by another huge margin, despite opposition from Labour MPs, the SNP and most Liberal Democrats.

 

Jeremy Corbyn said: 'MPs have a duty to represent their constituents as well as their party, and I understand the difficulties that MPs for constituencies which voted Remain have in relation to the European Union withdrawal Bill.

 

'However, it is right that the Labour Party respects the outcome of the referendum on leaving the European Union.' 

 

Rachael Maskell, who resigned rather than fall into line with the leadership's stance of supporting legislation that will trigger Article 50, said: 'The UK is no longer being offered a ‘people’s Brexit’ but a ‘Theresa May Brexit’, which goes far beyond just leaving the European Union, as voted on at the referendum last June.'