- 08/04/2019
- Posted by: Valerie Vaz MP
- Category: News
The European Union (Withdrawal) (No 5) Bill received Royal Assent on Monday 8 April 2019.
The cross-party Backbench Act requests the Prime Minister to ask the European Council for an extension to Article 50, thereby preventing the UK from crashing out of the EU without a deal.
The Bill was amended by peers to state that nothing in it prevented the prime minister from “seeking or agreeing” an extension, provided it was not earlier than 22 May.
The Bill passed through all stages in the Commons and the Lords in less than a week (the 1st reading in the Commons took place on 2 April 2019), with multiple readings, Committee and Report stages being held on each day.
On Monday 8 April 2019, MPs accepted the final Lords amendment to the Bill by 390 votes to 81, with a majority 309. I voted in favour as the Bill helps protect the UK from a damaging no-deal exit from the EU.
The Bill received Royal Assent the same day to become an Act of Parliament: the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2019.