Advertisement

MPs given more power as Brexit hits another hurdle after vote

Theresa May has been battling to trigger Brexit on her own terms.

Theresa May has been battling to trigger Brexit on her own terms. Photo: Getty

The British government will seek to overturn changes made by parliament’s upper chamber to legislation that will give Prime Minister Theresa May the power to begin EU exit talks, Brexit minister David Davis says.

The House of Lords voted on Tuesday to give lawmakers more power to reject the final terms of the country’s exit from the European Union, ignoring pleas from May’s government not to hamstring their negotiations.

“It is clear that some in the Lords would seek to frustrate that process, and it is the Government’s intention to ensure that does not happen. We will now aim to overturn these amendments in the House of Commons,” Davis said.

The vote, which passed by 366 to 268, attaches an extra condition to the “European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill” — legislation which will give May the power to trigger divorce talks. She plans to use that power later this month.

The amended bill now demands that Britain’s parliament has to approve any exit deal before it is debated by the European Parliament, or, if talks fail, that lawmakers must vote to approve a decision to walk away without a deal.

The government has already promised parliament a vote on the final deal, but believes restricting May’s ability to leave the negotiating table could encourage the EU to offer a bad deal in the hope that lawmakers would then reject it and potentially halt Brexit.

Ministers will try to overturn changes to the bill before they become law.

Topics: Brexit
Stay informed, daily
A FREE subscription to The New Daily arrives every morning and evening.
The New Daily is a trusted source of national news and information and is provided free for all Australians. Read our editorial charter
Copyright © 2024 The New Daily.
All rights reserved.