Tom Goodenough Tom Goodenough

Will Theresa May’s Article 50 plan emerge unscathed from its final Commons test today?

After two days of testing Commons debates, Theresa May’s Brexit timetable remains on track. Yesterday’s ‘concession’ – or non-concession, depending on how you look at it – by ministers did enough to limit the extent of the Tory rebellion (only seven Conservative MPs went against the Government, despite earlier reports that as many as 20 backbenchers were considering doing so). This meant the Government’s Article 50 bill emerged unscathed. Of course all that could change this afternoon.

Today’s debate will be the last opportunity for MPs hoping to tinker with the bill which will kick start Brexit. In the spirit of this week’s mammoth sessions, it’ll be another long debate, starting at 1.30pm, with a final vote expected at around 8.30pm. Even after today, peers will still get the opportunity to try and insert clauses here and there into the Article 50 bill. Yet it’s almost certain that any such attempt will be knocked down by MPs when it’s batted back to the Commons.

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