UK House of Commons passes Brexit bill

British MPs have overwhelmingly agreed in House of Commons to let the government begin the UK's departure from the EU as they voted for the Brexit bill. The draft legislation was approved by 494 votes to 122, and now moves to the House of Lords. Shadow business Secretary Clive Lewis was one of 52 Labour MPs to defy party orders to back the bill and he resigned from the front bench.

PM Theresa May wants to trigger formal Brexit talks by the end of March. She will do this by invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, but requires Parliament's permission before doing so.Earlier in the day, the



UK House of Commons voted down a Brexit bill amendment to guarantee the rights of EU citizens to stay in the country after it leaves the bloc. The Labor-proposed amendment was rejected by a margin of 332 to 290. The vote supports the government's proposals to avoid guaranteeing the rights of EU nationals to stay in the country after Brexit until a final deal is reached with the European Union.

Also, the House of Commons rejected Amendment 43 to the Brexit bill implying holding the referendum on the character of future relations between the United Kingdom and the European Union.