UK govt gives lawmakers limited time to eye bill on Brexit
LONDON — As British lawmakers cried out “Disgraceful!,” the Conservative government on Thursday introduced the long-awaited bill to start the country’s exit from the European Union and gave the House of Commons less than two weeks to consider it.
David Davis, the Cabinet secretary in charge of Brexit, unveiled the legislation just two days after a Supreme Court ruling that torpedoed the government’s effort to avoid a parliamentary vote on starting the process of leaving the 28-nation bloc.
The Commons will begin debate on the bill on Jan. 31 and it is set to go to the House of Lords on Feb. 8.
Prime Minister Theresa May is rushing to meet a self-imposed deadline of March 31 for triggering Article 50 of the EU treaty, which will launch two years of talks on Britain’s future relationship with the bloc after more than 40 years of membership. Voters approved Britain’s EU exit in a June 23 referendum.