The European Union (notification of withdrawal) Bill, which formally initiates Article 50, has been introduced to the House of Commons by David Davis, secretary of state for exiting the European Union
The Bill gives the Theresa May, the prime minister, the power to formally trigger Article 50.
It is expected to move through the House of Commons and House of Lords before gaining Royal Assent before 31 March 2017.
The Bill has been introduced following the Supreme Court’s judgment that government must have parliamentary approval before triggering Article 50.
David Davis said: ‘The British people have made the decision to leave the EU and this government is determined to get on with the job of delivering it. So today we have introduced a Bill in Parliament which will allow us to formally trigger Article 50 by the end of March.
‘I trust that Parliament, which backed the referendum by six to one, will respect the decision taken by the British people and pass the legislation quickly.’
