United Kingdom parliament passes Brexit Bill and opens way to triggering Article 50
Despite speculation that Mrs May would immediately notify the European Council she was beginning the formal withdrawal process, Downing Street indicated she would wait another two weeks until the end of the month - her long-stated deadline for doing so.
The Treaty, which was signed by all 28 member countries, became law in December 2009 and contains the rules for exit.
Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said: “It was reckless of the Government to fail to plan for a Leave vote previous year, and as this report shows, they are being just as reckless in their approach to the Article 50 negotiations, if not more so”.
In the first vote in 2014, Scots voted by 55 per cent to reject separation.
Facing a possible rebellion from Conservatives who want to vote on the final Brexit terms, Davis urged lawmakers to back May’s Brexit strategy and overturn those changes because they would tie the government’s hands in the negotiations.
The victory of May’s government in parliament on Monday, however, was marred by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon outlining plans to hold a second independence referendum - an indication of the obstacles that lie ahead.
The House of Commons will consider the Brexit Bill on Monday afternoon, meaning the United Kingdom could be just a day away from official Brexit talks if MPs and peers pass legislation allowing Theresa May to trigger Article 50.
Even if Britain and the European Union enter negotiations with goodwill and the desire for a successful outcome, parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee say negotiations could stall, or be derailed, ending with no deal between Britain and the EU’s 27 member states.
The Bill will return to the Lords later the same evening but the Commons effectively cleared the way for Theresa May to formally start Britain’s exit from the EU.
The bill travels back and forth between the two chambers until both sides agree - Parliament could sit through the night to try to reach an agreement, and time has also been set aside on Tuesday and Wednesday.
MPs in the House of Commons want to finally approve May’s Article 50 Bill to enable Queen Elizabeth II to give royal assent.
This, he said, was “coupled with the tired realisation that long and trying Scottish referendum battle will be run nearly in parallel with the UK’s Brexit negotiations”.
With all the legal hurdles out of the way, PM May is free to trigger Article 50. However, polls suggest any new referendum would be closer and Scotland’s European Union membership could be a key reason.
Brexit Secretary David Davis said the Government had a “moral responsibility” to the four million people this affected.
It was also reported that a further six bills could be necessary, covering migrant benefits, reciprocal healthcare arrangements, road freight, nuclear safeguards, emissions trading and the transfer of spending from European Union funds to UK Government departments.