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Government agrees to compromise with Tory rebels over controversial Brexit bill

POOL/AFP via Getty Images
POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The Government has agreed to a compromise with Tory rebels over the controversial UK Internal Market Bill, giving MPs a vote before using powers which would break international law.

Following constructive talks over the last few days, the Government has agreed to table an amendment for Committee Stage.

The bill, which looks at how England trades with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland post-Brexit, has proved controversial both in and outside of the House of Commons.

It gives the Government power to change aspects of the European Withdrawal agreement - a legally-binding deal which was signed with Brussels in January.

A joint statement issued on behalf of Downing Street and Conservative MPs Sir Bob Neill and Damian Green said: “This amendment will require the House of Commons to vote for a motion before a minister can use the ‘notwithstanding’ powers contained in the U.K. Internal Market Bill.

MPs debated the Internal Market Bill in the Commons (PA)
MPs debated the Internal Market Bill in the Commons (PA)

“The Internal Market Bill was designed to give MPs and Peers a vote on the use of these powers via statutory instrument. But following talks, it is agreed that the Parliamentary procedure suggested by some colleagues provides a clearer, more explicit democratic mandate for the use of these powers, and also provides more legal certainty.

“The Government will table another amendment which sets clear limits on the scope and timeliness of judicial review into the exercise of these powers. This will provide people and businesses with the certainty that they need.

“We welcome the way the Parliamentary Party has come together on these issue. There is near-unanimous agreement that the Government must be able to use these powers as a final resort, that there must be legal certainty, and that no further amendments are required on these powers.”

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