The government was facing difficulties this week in its efforts to fix the date of Brexit, as MPs began an eight-day debate on the EU Withdrawal Bill.
Conservative rebels included former attorney general Dominic Grieve, who called the amendment to fix the time of departure to 11pm on 29 March 2019 ‘so very strange, because it seems to me to fetter the government, to add nothing to the strength of the government’s negotiating position, and in fact potentially to create a very great problem that could be brought back to visit on us at a later stage.’
Former Justice minister Jonathan Djanogly warned he could ‘only see downsides’ to a fixed date. Ken Clarke MP called the amendment ‘utterly foolish’ since it closed down the possibility of any extension to the talks. However, Frank Field MP argued that setting a date ensured the UK rather than the EU sets the date for Brexit.
More than 470 amendments have been tabled. By the end of day one of the debate, the government had won the first five. These included an SNP amendment that the courts post-Brexit should pay due regard to relevant European Court of Justice decisions when interpreting retained EU law. They also included a Plaid Cymru amendment to give Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland a veto over Brexit, and a Labour amendment on how a transitional period would work.
Meanwhile, Justice minister Dominic Raab has confirmed that the government will table an amendment before report stage requiring ministers presenting any Brexit-related primary or secondary legislation to first make a statement on whether and how it is consistent with the Equalities Act.
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