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UK parliament rejects Lords amendments to Brexit bill UK on brink of triggering Brexit as House of Lords passes bill unchanged
(about 4 hours later)
MPs have rejected the House of Lords’ amendments to the Brexit bill, meaning Britain could be just a day away from officially launching talks to leave the European Union. The British government has breezed past the final obstacles to Brexit negotiations, giving Prime Minister Theresa May the power to begin formal EU divorce talks after lawmakers rejected changes to the bill that would have frustrated the process.
Britain’s unelected upper chamber, the House of Lords, gave the go ahead for Brexit following two parliamentary votes earlier on Monday after the proposed amendments to the bill were thrown out by a significant majority.
The House of Commons voted on the bill’s proposed changes on Monday evening. All that remains for the British government to trigger Article 50 is symbolic approval from the Queen, known as Royal Assent, which could be granted as early as Tuesday morning.
The Lords wanted the rights of EU citizens living and working in the UK after Brexit to be protected and for Parliament to have a vote on any deal Prime Minister Theresa May brings forward. Theresa May could technically trigger Article 50 on Tuesday, thus setting Brexit in motion. However, a government spokesman has hinted that EU exit talks may begin closer to the end of the month.
The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill was passed unamended despite a handful of Tory rebels demanding further verbal assurances that Parliament will have a greater role in determining the country’s future. "We have been clear. The Prime Minister will trigger Article 50 by the end of March," a spokesman for Downing Street said, as cited by The Independent.
Brexit secretary David Davis urged MPs to vote against the amendments. He insisted the government “will not do anything that will undermine the rights of EU citizens in Britain.” READ MORE: Lords defeat government again, backing second Brexit bill amendment
Among those asking for concessions were ex-Education Secretary Nicky Morgan. She has raised concerns about what sort of say MPs would have if May returns from two years of EU negotiations recommending no trade deal, which would see the UK default to standard World Trade Organization (WTO) arrangements. In the first amendment, The Lords wanted the rights of EU citizens living and working in the UK after Brexit to be protected. It was defeated by 335 votes to 287.
“MPs and peers have voted overwhelmingly to allow the overall Article 50 process to go through. But yes, we do think that Parliament should have a say, should have an input on the final deal, whatever negotiations conclude,” she told the BBC. The second amendment, seemingly the last hope for the ‘remain’ campaigners, would have provided the British parliament with a veto on Brexit once future negotiations with the EU had concluded. However, that too was defeated by 331 to 226.
Labour also urged May to consider the “really important” Lords amendments, saying EU citizens have been “left in limbo” waiting to hear if they will have the right to stay. May's task in negotiating Britain's EU exit was made more complicated on Monday by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon demanding a new independence referendum, in light of the Brexit fallout.
The bill will now move back to the House of Lords, where peers are likely to accept it without their amendments later on Monday night. May will then have the power to trigger Article 50 as early as Tuesday, once it has received royal assent. As May’s hand moved closer to the Brexit trigger, Sturgeon said she would stand up for Scotland’s interests and make sure the Scottish people have a choice at the end of Brexit negotiations.
The Queen’s permission, known as royal assent, is the Crown’s symbolic seal of approval of a Bill to become an Act of Parliament, and thus law. It is given either in person or through commissioners of the Crown, and has not been withheld since 1707. READ MORE: Sturgeon announces plan for 2nd Scottish independence referendum
May is to give a statement in the Commons on Tuesday about last week’s summit of the European Council, providing an opportunity to make the announcement.May is to give a statement in the Commons on Tuesday about last week’s summit of the European Council, providing an opportunity to make the announcement.
On Monday, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon vowed to hold a second independence referendum. The majority of Scots voted to remain in the EU.