Brexit law passes hurdle in reprieve for British PM May

Britain鈥檚 parliament backed a second reading of legislation to sever ties with the EU. (AFP)

LONDON: Britain鈥檚 parliament backed a second reading of legislation to sever ties with the EU early on Tuesday, a reprieve for Prime Minister Theresa May who now faces demands by lawmakers for concessions before it becomes law.
After more than 13 hours of speeches for and against the legislation, which May says is essential for Brexit but critics describe as a Conservative government power grab, lawmakers voted 326 to 290 in favor of moving the EU withdrawal bill, or repeal bill, to the next stage of a lengthy lawmaking process.
Many fell in step with the government which said a vote against the legislation would force Britain into a chaotic exit from the EU, rather than a smooth departure, as the country would lack laws and a regulatory framework to steer the process.
May, weakened by the loss of her majority in a June election, now faces a battle against politicians who want to force amendments to the bill, first in the lower house of parliament and then in Britain鈥檚 unelected upper chamber.
鈥淓arlier this morning parliament took a historic decision to back the will of the British people and vote for a bill which gives certainty and clarity ahead of our withdrawal from the European Union,鈥� May said in a statement.
鈥淎lthough there is more to do, this decision means we can move on with negotiations with solid foundations and we continue to encourage MPs (lawmakers) from all parts of the UK to work together in support of this vital piece of legislation.鈥�
Her justice minister urged lawmakers to back the bill and signalled that the government would listen to the concerns of lawmakers despite describing some of their criticism as being 鈥渆xaggerated up to and beyond the point of hyperbole.鈥�
The bill seeks largely to 鈥榗opy and paste鈥� EU law into British legislation to ensure Britain has functioning laws and the same regulatory framework as the bloc at the moment of Brexit, to offer some reassurance for companies.

Referendum rift
But the often impassioned debate in the 650-seat parliament underlined the rifts exposed by last year鈥檚 EU referendum, not only in Britain鈥檚 main parties, but also in the country.
The opposition Labour Party had called on its lawmakers to vote against the bill if the government failed to make concessions. But seven rebelled, with some saying they had to respect the demands of their pro-Brexit voters.
鈥淭his is a deeply disappointing result,鈥� said Labour鈥檚 Brexit spokesman, Keir Starmer. 鈥淭his bill is an affront to parliamentary democracy and a naked power grab by government ministers ... It will make the Brexit process more uncertain, and lead to division and chaos when we need unity and clarity.鈥�
The government has defended the bill by saying it will allow Britain to become 鈥渕asters of our own laws,鈥� but it also gives ministers wide-ranging powers to amend laws to make them work domestically, often by interchanging the word 鈥楨U鈥� for Britain.
But lawmakers, both in Labour and May鈥檚 governing Conservative Party, expressed fears the government would make substantial changes to legislation without consulting parliament 鈥� a charge the government has denied.
Despite the victory for a government now dependent on the support of Northern Ireland鈥檚 Democratic Unionist Party to secure a working majority, ministers will face attempts by both Conservative and Labour lawmakers to change the bill.
Some want assurances that the government will not misuse its power, others want to make sure the protections of certain workers rights are also written into the bill before allowing it to move to the unelected upper house of parliament.
The process is expected to take months to complete and both houses should agree the final wording before it can be passed.
鈥淟abour will seek to amend and remove the worst aspects from the bill as it passes through parliament,鈥� Starmer said. 鈥淏ut the flaws are so fundamental it鈥檚 hard to see how this bill could ever be made fit for purpose.鈥�