Prime Minister Theresa May’s little Brexit bill faced a lot of backlash when she first published it, and there was talk of renegade Conservative Party MPs rebelling against the PM and getting her bill overthrown and May had worries about a Parliament debate that would lead to a bunch of amendments that would change the way Brexit is being done beyond recognition, and we all know how much she likes to get her way exactly. But now, that bill has been passed.
May could trigger Article 50 by the end of March
When it was first reported a few months ago that May might be able to trigger article 50 by the end of March, it seemed crazily early (and it is, in terms of preparedness), but now it’s looking like she might actually be able to, and not only that, she can do it exactly the way she wanted to.
Brexit won’t be immediate, though, not by any means. It’ll still take a couple of years to get everything involved into effect.
Everyone had to concede to the House of Commons and their sovereignty late last night after conflict arose between the two Houses. The amendments to the Brexit bill would’ve allowed for EU citizens to continue to have rights in the UK and also given Parliament a “meaningful vote” on the final Brexit agreement. But following last night’s proceedings, that’s all gone out the window.
So, May achieved her ballsy and audacious scheme to pass a straightforward and uncomplicated little Brexit bill after all, and the formal EU leaving process can commence. Recent speculation has it that May will actually trigger Article 50 and kick-start the Brexit process today.
However, some commentators have changed their tune, predicting that she’ll do it during the last week of March instead.
Tory MPs praised a government decision
A handful of Conservative MPs praised the government last night for looking to guarantee that British citizens living abroad in other parts of Europe would be okay in the Brexit deal.
David Davis, the comically named Brexit secretary, voiced his happiness at the passing of the bill in Parliament, saying that everybody spoke passionately and he was very pleased with the proceedings.
Some MPs from the Labour, Liberal Democrat, and SNP political camps had some harsh words of criticism for him, but that’s to be expected from a guy who’s entire job revolves around the thing that’s divided the nation.
The MPs were mainly criticising him because they wanted Parliament to have a meaningful vote on the final Brexit deal, but Davis thinks this will be fine.
Davis assured them they’d still get a say in all government bills that come through the system, specifically mentioning the repeal bill and the issues of immigration and the Brexit customs deal in Britain, which they’ll get to voice their concerns about in the coming weeks. This was perhaps in response to a leaked document that is being interpreted as an outline of upcoming government bills being proposed to prepare Britons for life outside the EU.
Grassroots groups are rebelling
11 grassroots groups have joined forces in a coalition to get British nationals in the EU the rights, as well as the millions of Europeans living with us in the UK.
Germany-dwelling spokesperson Jane Golding says that she and the others involved “share their suffering” and feel for them in these times of “uncertainty” leading up to Brexit. She says, “We do not believe people should be used as a bargaining chips.”
