European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill 2016-17: UK’s Brexit bill overcomes another hurdle

The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill passed the last stage of its House of Commons examination on the 8 February 2017. The government secured this stage without conceding to any of the amendments proposed by MPs, which commentators noted was a significant victory for the government.

The bill also formally had its 1st reading in the House of Lords on the 8 February 2017. The more detailed 2nd Reading debate would begin on the 20 February 2017.

The Bill was intended to confer power on the United Kingdom Prime Minister to notify, under Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union, the United Kingdom’s intention to withdraw from the EU.

Information on the context and early stages of the passing of the bill can be seen here.

• Primary Source

UK: Parliament: Parliamentary Business: Bills and Legislation: 2016-17: Public Bills: European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill 2016-17 http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2016-17/europeanunionnotificationofwithdrawal.html

BBC News, 09.02.17: Brexit vote: Clive Lewis quits shadow cabinet as MPs back bill http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38902484

The Guardian, 09.02.17: Clive Lewis quits shadow cabinet as Brexit bill passes with huge majority https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/08/clive-lewis-quits-shadow-cabinet-over-brexit-bill

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

ESO: Background information: Article 50 Bill process begins http://www.europeansources.info/record/article-50-bill-process-begins-brexit-bill-clears-first-hurdle-in-uk-parliament/

Politico, 08.02.17: UK MPs back Theresa May’s Brexit bill http://www.politico.eu/article/uk-mps-back-theresa-mays-brexit-bill-article-50-parliament/

Euro|Topics: Debates, February 2017: Did parliament have no choice but to pass Brexit? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/173750/did-parliament-have-no-choice-but-to-pass-brexit

UK: Parliament: Parliamentary Business: News, 13.03.17: Lords examines European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2017/february/lords-debates-european-union-notification-of-withdrawal-bill/

UK: Parliament: House of Lords: Library: Library Note: LLN/2017/9: European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill (HL Bill 103 of 2016–17) (15.02.17) http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/LLN-2017-0009

BBC News, 20.02.17: Brexit: Lords to begin debating bill to trigger Article 50 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39020260

Blog: The Constitution Unit, 20.02.17: What will the Lords do with the Article 50 bill? https://constitution-unit.com/2017/02/20/what-will-the-lords-do-with-the-article-50-bill/

The Guardian, 20.02.17: Theresa May in House of Lords as peers begin article 50 bill debate https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/20/theresa-may-watches-house-of-lords-article-50-bill-debate-begins

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