Brexit bill becomes law; ‘PM May’s position stronger’, feel eurosceptics

Britain became eligible for a divorce from the European Union (EU) after a bill enacting the country's decision to leave the group became law after months of debate, Speaker of the country's parliament John Bercow announced on Tuesday, June 26, AFP reported.

Bercow said the EU (Withdrawal) Bill repealing the 1972 European Communities Act through which Britain attained membership of the EU, had obtained royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II.

The bill transferred decades of European law onto British statute books to avoid legal tussles, the AFP report said, adding that the bill also enshrined Brexit Day in the law of the country as March 29, 2019, at 11 pm GMT, as defined by the end of the two-year Article 50 withdrawal procedure.

The bill saw debate in the parliament lasting over 250 hours since it was introduced in July last year, AFP added. The referendum on Brexit took place on June 23, 2016, when the pro-leave campaign won, triggering one of the most controversial political moves made in the history of modern Europe.

This year, the pro-remain camp held a protest at Westminster on the second anniversary of the referendum demanding a fresh referendum.

Pro-Brexit voices celebrated the occasion of passing the bill through the parliament last week saying despite all the uncertainty over negotiation with the EU, Britain was exiting the grouping, the AFP report added.

Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox said the bill now made the way for Brexit irrevocable and the chances of it not leaving the EU were zero, AFP cited.

Eurosceptic voices also felt UK Prime Minister Theresa May had a much stronger position now when it comes to negotiations over Brexit.