Repeal Bill is now dropped from Commons timetable

THE flagship EU Withdrawal Bill has been taken out of the Parliamentary calendar as a Conservative backlash looms, it emerged last night.

The Bill was to be scrutinised by MPs next week – but has been temporarily removed from the timetable because the Government faces rebellion on several amendments. A total of 300 amendments and 54 new clauses have been tabled, of which 13 are said to have enough Tory support to defeat the Government.

The Bill will take European Union law into domestic legislation to provide continuity as Britain leaves the bloc.

During business questions yesterday, Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom faced questions about the Bill’s absence from the calendar. On the Bill, Mrs Leadsom said: ‘What I can say to all members is of course, there are some 300 amendments and 54 new clauses being proposed, quite rightly, by members who have very real concerns about the Bill.

‘Those are being closely evaluated. That is taking a bit of time to have proper, thoughtful, well considered responses to those. But we will of course be bringing forward the committee of the whole House [to debate the Bill] just as soon as we’re able to.’

MPs are due to spend eight days debating the Withdrawal Bill at committee stage. It will then undergo further scrutiny in the Commons and the Lords before it can be approved.