Landmark legislation enabling Britain to exit the EU at the end of the month has cleared its final parliamentary hurdle and is heading for the statute book.
Unelected peers bowed to the will of the Commons after MPs overturned all the changes made to Boris Johnson’s divorce deal by the Lords.
The bill now needs to receive Royal Assent from the Queen before becoming law in the UK.
This could happen before the weekend.
Among the amendments rejected by the Commons was a move, championed by Lord Dubs, to ensure the right of unaccompanied child refugees to be reunited with their families in the UK post-Brexit.
Seeking to reassure the Labour peer, Lord Callanan said: “The Government has been clear that we remain committed to seeking an agreement with the EU for the family reunion of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and has already written to the European Commission to commence negotiations.”
The legislation also required the Government to report to Parliament on the issue in the next few months, guaranteeing further scrutiny, he added.
(Image: PA)
Marking the end of the legislation’s passage through parliament, Lord Callanan said: “We are at the end of what seems like a very long road.
“The final stages of this Bill represent something which many of us thought might never happen – Parliament passing the legislation necessary to implement a Brexit deal and to finally deliver on the 2016 referendum.”
He added: “I know many on the benches opposite are disappointed that the Commons has chosen to disagree with all of the amendments that peers passed this week.
“I would, however, like to reassure peers that their expertise, their contributions will continue to play a valuable role after Brexit.
“Following our exit, this House will see more legislation on a range of topics connected to the departure from the European Union. In some cases, it will be the first time in decades that the UK has legislated on some of these matters.”
