PM’s bid to put Brexit divorce date into law dismissed as gimmick
THERESA May’s plan to write the date of the UK’s separation from the European Union into law has been dismissed as a “gimmick” and led to fresh warnings it could provoke a Tory revolt as MPs debated the Brexit legislation.
The Prime Minister wants 11pm GMT on March 29, 2019 enshrined in law as the point that the UK breaks away from Brussels.
But as the Commons began its first day of detailed scrutiny of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, the move was condemned by Labour and relations within the Tory party were described as “stormy” as a result of the Government’s handling of Brexit.
Meanwhile, Brexit Secretary David Davis sought to reassure businesses that progress was being made in talks with Brussels and said agreement on an implementation period