UK government kickstarts Brexit with streamlined 137-word Article 50 bill

AT JUST 137 words, this is one of the shortest pieces of legislation ever. But if it passes, it will change the course of history.

UK Brexit Minister David Davis. Picture: AFP/PRU

THE UK government has finally kickstarted Brexit by unveiling a streamlined Article 50 bill as they plan to get the tiny piece of legislation through the House of Commons in just two weeks.

Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis has fired the first salvo in the Parliamentary battle over what sort of divorce from Brussels the UK will secure, after the Supreme Court forced him to draw up legislation before triggering Article 50, The Sun reports.

On Tuesday the justices at Britain’s highest court rejected an appeal by eight to three and ruled that Parliament must give the Prime Minister permission before she can start the Brexit process.

In response the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, which is just 137 words long, has been presented to the House of Commons.

It needs to be rushed through both Houses of Parliament in order to meet the Prime Minister’s deadline for triggering Article 50 by the end of March.

The concise bill is one of the shortest pieces of legislation ever laid down in the UK.

David Lidingtion, the Leader of the House of Commons, set out the timetable for the House of Commons debates and votes.

He said the Second Reading, where amendments may be tabled, will start on Tuesday, and there is parliamentary time allocated for it on Wednesday too, with the hope it will clear the final hurdle in the lower chamber before going to the House of Lords on February 8.

After its introduction Mr Davis said: “I trust that Parliament, which backed the referendum by six to one, will respect the decision taken by the British people and pass the legislation quickly.”

It is expected to face attempts to amend it from all sides, while some MPs and peers will just oppose it outright — although the Government is confident that it can get the legislation through Parliament.

Members in both Houses will be acutely aware that appearing to frustrate the progress of the Bill would risk accusations that they are going against the will of the people expressed in last year’s referendum.

But the Liberal Democrats have vowed to oppose Article 50 unless there is a guarantee of a fresh public vote on the final Brexit deal agreed with Brussels, and the SNP has vowed to table 50 amendments to the legislation.

On the Labour side there could be a potential rebellion by MPs, after the leader Jeremy Corbyn imposed a ‘three line whip’ on the Article 50 bill.

This means they must vote with the Government, and any members of his Shadow Cabinet would have to resign if they voted against it.

Shadow education minister Tulip Siddiq said she is ready to step down from her position if necessary in order to represent the views of her north London constituents, who voted overwhelmingly to Remain.

Labour is likely to table amendments to the Article 50 Bill on protecting workers’ rights and the environment, as well as ensuring the Government is subjected to scrutiny during negotiations.

And it is expected to try to amend the Bill to require a “meaningful” vote at the end of the process.

This would enable MPs to send ministers back to Brussels to seek a renegotiation if they do not approve of the deal which has been struck.

Meanwhile MPs continue to call for the white paper outlining Theresa May’s full plan for quitting the EU to be published as soon as possible.

There is pressure on the ministers to produce the promised document — announced by Mrs May at Prime Minister’s Questions — before the crucial votes on triggering Article 50.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission.