No 10 blasts MPs over attempts to block Brexit Bill

DOWNING Street yesterday sent a stark warning to Remainer MPs not to use blocking tactics to stop Brexit.

The shot across the bows came after Commons amendments to the Bill to trigger Article 50 reached 142 pages.

A concerted plot by Remainer MPs to thwart the will of the British people has led to dozens of attempts to change the 137-word Bill.

Ministers were forced to introduce the bill after millionaire Gina Miller made a successful legal challenge to force them to get parliamentary backing to implement the will of the British people.

Another legal challenge by the Remain-supporting campaign group British Influence which wants separate legislation to leave the European Economic Area was thrown out by the High Court yesterday.

A spokesman for Theresa May warned yesterday that the British people would not accept delaying tactics. He said: “Both MPs and Lords need to recognise the situation we are in. The people have stated that they want to leave the European Union and they expect us to get on with it.”

Ukip leader Paul Nuttall said: “The amendments are nothing short of an attempt to ignore the will of the people and stop us leaving the EU.

“We cannot trust the same politicians who for years were happy to see uncontrolled immigration push down wages, cause huge queues for housing and clog-up our NHS, to give us the proper Brexit we need and these amendments prove it.

“It is clear that those trying to change the Bill still don’t want to give the people of Britain the clean Brexit the country voted for.”

Veteran Tory MP Sir Bill Cash said: “‘This is pure obstructionism. Very few of them are constructive amendments and it is clear that they have been designed to frustrate, undermine and slow down the Brexit process.

“This Bill has been put before Parliament to give effect to the Supreme Court judgement and the judges themselves have said that the case had nothing to do with the broad question of our relationship with the EU.”

The SNP has put down 50 amendments while the Lib Dems want a second referendum to overturn Brexit.

Dozens more amendments have come from Remain-supporting Labour MPs.