Theresa May could trigger Article 50 by Tuesday if Brexit bill passe

Prime Minister Theresa May could begin the formal process for leaving the European Union by triggering Article 50 as early as Tuesday, officials in the UK and Brussels were quoted by British newspaper the Independent as saying on Saturday.

The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill is set to be debated by MPs on Monday, when they will decide whether to accept two amendments added by the House of Lords.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister will brief MPs in the Commons about this week’s EU summit, and it is understood she may use the occasion to formally trigger the leaving process.

One of the amendments voted through by the House of Lords would force the Government to give MPs a “meaningful vote” on the final Brexit deal before the country withdrew from the bloc.

The other change asks the Government to guarantee the rights of EU citizens when it leaves.

Ms May has committed the Government to triggering Article 50 by the end of March, which leaves fewer than three weeks in which to pull the trigger. 

But unnamed Westminster sources have reportedly said that the action could come as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday next week.

Source: MENA