Brexit presents parliament with daunting challenges but steps are being taken to help it meet them

Brexit presents the UK parliament with daunting challenges, both politically and procedurally. In this post Arnold Ridout, Counsel for European Legislation at the House of Commons, highlighted some of these and explained what steps were being taken to held ensure that parliament performed its role effectively.

The post was adapted from a talk he gave at a Constitution Unit seminar on ‘Brexit at Westminster’, held on 13 March 2017.

• Primary Source

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

UK: Parliament: Parliamentary Business: News, 22.11.16: Brexit - what role should Parliament play? http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/constitution-committee/news-parliament-2015/article50-debate/

ESO: Background information: European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill: Government vows to overturn EU citizens vote following Lords defeat http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-union-notification-of-withdrawal-bill-lords-urge-tories-to-back-brexit-bill-amendment-on-eu-citizens-uk-lords-demand-power-to-reject-final-brexit-terms-parliament-passes-brexit-bill-a/

ESO: Background information: Legislating Brexit. The Great Repeal Bill and the wider legislative challenge http://www.europeansources.info/record/legislating-brexit-the-great-repeal-bill-and-the-wider-legislative-challenge/

BBC News, 20.03.17: Brexit could place 'huge burden' on Parliament http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39322297

Institute for Government: Briefing Paper, December 2016: Whitehall’s preparation for the UK’s exit from the EU http://www.europeansources.info/record/whitehalls-preparation-for-the-uks-exit-from-the-eu/

Blog: UCL The Constitution Unit, 23.03.17: Brexit at Westminster: can parliament play a meaningful role? https://constitution-unit.com/2017/03/23/brexit-at-westminster-can-parliament-play-a-meaningful-role/

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