Boris Johnson calls on MPs to 'take back control' and pass his Brexit bill
2 min read
Boris Johnson has called on Parliament to "take back control" by backing his Brexit deal in a crunch Commons vote.
MPs will consider the Withdrawal Agreement Bill at second reading on the first of three days allocated for scrutiny of the landmark legislation.
The bill aims to transfer into law the Brexit deal struck by the Prime Minister in Brussels last week.
But opposition parties will try to disrupt his plans by amending the legislation in an attempt to hold either a second EU referendum or a general election, or to force the UK to stay in the customs union.
Ministers will then face a race against time to get the law onto the statute book in time for the 31 October Brexit deadline.
Speaking ahead of the debate, Mr Johnson said: "We have negotiated a new deal so that we can leave without disruption and provide a framework for a new relationship based on free trade and friendly co-operation. We are leaving the European Union but we will always be European.
"I hope Parliament today votes to take back control for itself and the British people and the country can start to focus on the cost of living, the NHS, and conserving our environment. The public doesn’t want any more delays, neither do other European leaders and neither do I. Let’s get Brexit done on 31 October and move on."
The 110-page WAB was finally published just before 8pm on Monday, giving MPs just 24 hours to read it and table any amendments they want to bring forward.
Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg was criticised in the Commons after he announced that the Government has only given MPs until Thursday night to get the bill through all of its Parliamentary stages.
Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer said: "This is a bill to implement Boris Johnson’s deeply flawed plan for Brexit.
"It is outrageous to deny Parliament the chance to scrutinise this incredibly important legislation properly. Ministers are trying to bounce MPs into signing off a bill that could cause huge damage to our country. We can’t trust this Prime Minister.
"The truth is Boris Johnson knows that the more time people have to read the small print of his deal, the more it will be exposed for the risks it represents to our economy and communities across the country."
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