Here’s what MPs had to say after the House of Lords gave the green light on Brexit
After the House of Lords joined MPs in passing legislation to give Prime Minister Theresa May the power to trigger Article 50, Conservative MPs said it’s time to get on with Brexit.
Brexit secretary David Davis said the UK is on the threshold of “the most important negotiation for our country in a generation.”
“So we will trigger article 50 by the end of this month as planned,” he confirmed.
Dominic Raab, founding supporter of Change Britain, formerly Vote Leave, added the UK now has a clear mandate to negotiate Britain’s departure from the EU.
“The UK economy is strong. Now, it’s time to go into these negotiations with some ambition and support the government, so it can secure the very best deal – one that is good for the whole UK, and good for the EU too.”
Conservative MP Steve Baker said he’s confident the Prime Minister will now move “with all haste” to gain reciprocal rights for UK and EU citizens.
Baker also praised Parliament’s efforts to keep negotiations simple. “This bill served a simple purpose fulfilling the requirements of the Supreme Court and that’s what we’ve done.”
However, Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats warned the Prime Minister will now deliver “the hardest and harshest of Brexits that no one voted for”.
He appealed to May not to trigger Article 50 when “her government has simply not done the work that will lead to new trade deals”, warning it will damage the UK economy and reduce life chances for young people.
“You can’t have a hard Brexit and a successful economy,” he said.
He also criticised Labour, saying they “sat on their hands” when they could have been blocking May’s hard Brexit.
“Tonight there will be families fearful that they will be torn apart. Shame on the government for using people as chips in a casino, and shame on Labour for letting them,” he said.
Farron called out Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who he said wrote a “blank cheque” to the Conservative government.
The Lib Dems are “alone among parties” fighting against a destructive, hard Brexit Farron said.