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Brexit bill receives Royal Assent allowing Theresa May to trigger Article 50 | Brexit bill receives Royal Assent allowing Theresa May to trigger Article 50 |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Bill to give Theresa May the authority to start the Brexit process has been granted Royal Assent – to cheers from Conservative MPs. | The Bill to give Theresa May the authority to start the Brexit process has been granted Royal Assent – to cheers from Conservative MPs. |
Commons Speaker John Bercow told MPs: “I have to notify the House, in accordance with the Royal Assent 1967, that her majesty has signified her royal assent to the following acts: Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act 2017, European Union (Notification of withdrawal) Act 2017.” | Commons Speaker John Bercow told MPs: “I have to notify the House, in accordance with the Royal Assent 1967, that her majesty has signified her royal assent to the following acts: Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act 2017, European Union (Notification of withdrawal) Act 2017.” |
The landmark moment came after MPs threw out Lords amendments this week, after which peers agreed not to prolong the fight over the detail of the Article 50 Bill. | The landmark moment came after MPs threw out Lords amendments this week, after which peers agreed not to prolong the fight over the detail of the Article 50 Bill. |
The Prime Minister is now free to trigger the exit clause, but is not expected to do so until as late as March 29. | The Prime Minister is now free to trigger the exit clause, but is not expected to do so until as late as March 29. |
That means negotiations are now not expected to get underway until June – cutting short the anticipated two-year window to reach an agreement. | That means negotiations are now not expected to get underway until June – cutting short the anticipated two-year window to reach an agreement. |
A Downing Street spokesman said: "The legislation has been passed unamended, we are pleased that's the case. The legislation has got Royal Assent and we look forward to triggering negotiations by the end of March." | |
The leaders of the remaining 27 states had planned to offer the UK a substantial response to the Article 50 notification at a European Council summit on April 6. | The leaders of the remaining 27 states had planned to offer the UK a substantial response to the Article 50 notification at a European Council summit on April 6. |
However, senior figures in Brussels have warned that the timetable will be too tight if Ms May triggers Article 50 in the last week of March. | |
Because of the timing of Easter and the French presidential elections, the next summit will not take place until the end of May - and substantial talks would not start until the following month. | Because of the timing of Easter and the French presidential elections, the next summit will not take place until the end of May - and substantial talks would not start until the following month. |