MPs kick off two-day debate on Article 50

Today MPs begin a two-day long debate on the bill to trigger Article 50 and Britain’s exit from the EU.
Last week the UK’s Supreme Court ruled the government cannot begin the process of leaving the EU without a vote in parliament. It upheld an earlier ruling by the High Court in October, which ruled the government could not trigger Article 50 without a vote.



MPs will be given extra time to debate the European Union Bill. Discussion will go on until midnight tonight, and a vote will be held tomorrow (Wednesday). Government ministers want to get the bill passed in time to trigger Brexit by 31 March.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has ordered his MPs to vote with the government, according to the BBC. However, it is widely expected some Labour MPs will defy that order.
The Act of parliament, known as the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017, would allow Prime Minister Theresa May to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. It has two clauses
1.   The prime minister may notify, under Article 50(2) of the Treaty on the European Union, the United Kingdom’s intention to withdraw from the EU.
2.   This section has effect despite any provision made by or under the European Communities Act 21972 or any other enactment.
Next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be set aside for the committee and report stages of the bill and for the third reading. This is when opposition parties could try to push through amendments. After that the bill will be put to the House of Lords.
Speaking in Dublin yesterday May said: ‘The people of the United Kingdom voted on 23 June last year. They voted in a referendum that was given to them overwhelmingly by Parliament.
‘The people spoke in that vote. The majority voted to leave the European Union. I think it is now the job of the government to put that into practice. I hope that when people come to look at the Article 50 Bill they will recognise it is a very simple decision: do they support the will of the British people or not?’

Speaking to Citywire, former pensions minister Ros Altmann (pictured), who has a seat in the House of Lords, said she would oppose triggering Article 50 in March.
‘I of course respect the views of the British people and the ultimate decision on what happens next will be in the hands of MPs,’ she said, adding however that ‘I cannot vote for Article 50 being triggered by the end of March as in all good conscience I believe this it would be a mistake. I do not see why there is such a rush to pull the trigger.