British lawmakers were warned that blocking the Brexit repeal bill in the House of Commons on Monday night will prompt a «chaotic» departure from the EU.
The vote on what is formally titled the European Union (Withdrawal) bill — designed to transfer EU law into UK legislation upon the country’s departure from the bloc in March 2019 — will come after the conclusion of a second day of debate, which began last Thursday.
In addition to codifying existing EU laws, the bill also means that the UK would no longer have to adhere to new laws made in Brussels after the country’s departure from the bloc.
Opposition: Bill is a ‘power grab’
But Theresa May’s government faces opposition over measures known as Henry VIII powers, which opponents say constitute a «power grab» and give ministers more power than Parliament.
The government says those powers will not be used for any significant changes but rather for technical amendments and only for a limited time.
But this has not been enough to placate opponents. Labour has said it will vote against the bill, with leader Jeremy Corbyn instructing his party to vote against the legislation.
«Parliament has already voted to leave the European Union. But the government’s EU Withdrawal bill would allow Conservative ministers to set vital terms on a whim, including of Britain’s exit payment, without democratic scrutiny, » a Labour spokesperson told CNN on Monday.
Despite attempts from Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party to band together in opposition to the bill, May should have the numbers to pass it.
The bill will then move to the committee stage in the House of Commons in October where amendments are likely to be added under pressure from backbench Conservatives and opposition members of Parliament.
Victory in the Commons would be a welcome boost for the Prime Minister with Britain enduring a difficult start to negotiations with Brussels, highlighted by last week’s frosty encounter between Davis and his European counterpart Michel Barnier.
Barnier complained of «no decisive progress» in the negotiations and accused Britain of attempting to secure the «impossible» in its approach to leaving the single market while retaining its benefits.
