THERESA May’s Brexit Bill looks set to face a difficult journey in the Commons after a raft of potential changes were tabled within 24 hours of it being published.
Yesterday, the SNP set out the first four of 50 amendments they have vowed to make, as the Prime Minister was in America for talks with US President Donald Trump.
The party are asking for a UK-EU membership reset clause, which means that if May fails to seek agreement from the European Council to approve the terms of exit for the UK, it will result in UK membership continuing on existing terms.
Its second amendment states that the Prime Minister must seek agreement of all members of the Joint Ministerial Committee on European Negotiation to an agreed UK-wide approach to, and objectives for, the UK’s negotiations for withdrawal from the EU, while a third calls for the protection of the status of EU nationals living in the UK.
The fourth requires the Prime Minister to bring a white paper on the UK exiting the EU before both houses of Parliament.
Alex Salmond, the SNP’s inter- national affairs spokesman at Westminster, said: “The UK Government may choose to treat devolved administrations with utter contempt but let it be clear that these amendments tabled by the SNP should show the Prime Minister that here, in Westminster, the SNP will lead the charge in bringing the hard Brexit brigade back to the House to answer over their lack of plans.
“These tabled amendments are to address some of the ongoing and abiding concerns of EU citizens, devolved administrations and respect for Parliament in its most fundamental and basic duty.
“The pressure is piling on Theresa May when she returns from her jaunt to cosy up to Donald Trump. She should prepare for the SNP putting forward an effective opposition.”
Discussion of amendments to the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill published on Thursday will take place during three days of debate from February 6 as the legislation is fast-tracked through Parliament in order to meet May’s deadline of triggering Article 50 and starting the formal two-year countdown to Brexit by the end of March.
Labour have also brought forward amendments, seeking guarantees of legal rights for EU citizens, the protection of workers’ rights and tariff-free access to the single market.
Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said his party’s amendments would “significantly improve the Government’s Bill”.
But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's imposition of a three-line whip forcing his MPs to support the Bill has provoked criticism and caused a member of his shadow cabinet to quit.
Jo Stevens resigned as shadow Welsh secretary yesterday saying that Brexit was a “terrible mistake” while two Labour whips – meant to enforce party discipline – indicated they would rebel in next week’s vote.
In her resignation letter, Cardiff Central MP Stevens said she had argued against the imposition of the three-line whip requiring the party's MPs to support the Bill.
She said: “I accept the referendum result is to leave. I also accept that the parliamentary numbers are such that Article 50 will be triggered and we will leave the EU.
“But I believe that leaving is a terrible mistake and I cannot reconcile my overwhelming view that to endorse the step that will make exit inevitable is wrong.”
Shadow transport minister Daniel Zeichner also said he would vote against Article 50 and Hampstead and Kilburn MP Tulip Siddiq quit her role as a shadow education minister over the issue on Thursday.
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