David Davis warns Labour not to block Brexit in marathon debate as MPs gear up to vote for bill triggering Article 50 today
DAVID Davis warned Labour MPs not to ignore the result of the referendum as he kicked off the Brexit Bill debate in Parliament ahead of a crunch Commons vote today.
The Brexit Secretary warned rebels not to defy the will of the public vote when MPs vote on triggering Article 50 tonight.
The Commons prepared for a marathon debate to ensure everyone who wanted to gets a chance to speak in the chamber over two days.
Hours were extended until midnight last night, and a vote will take place this evening after more debate.
Last night Parliament's bars remained open ALL night to give MPs a break from their discussions of the European Union.
Opening the debate yesterday, Mr Davis warned Remoaners not to defy the will of the people and encouraged them to support Theresa May triggering Article 50 - the formal start of divorce proceedings with the EU.
"We asked the people of the UK if they wanted to leave the EU. They decided they did," he said.
"So at the core of this Bill lies a very simple question. Do we trust the people or not?"
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Labour are set for a sticky situation as scores of their MPs are set to defy Jeremy Corbyn's wishes and vote AGAINST triggering Article 50.
Shadow ministers Tulip Siddiq and Jo Stevens have already resigned over the issue - both their constituencies voted to Remain last June.
The SNP and Liberal Democrats will also vote against the Bill, and all three Opposition parties have triggered amendments to the motion.
David Davis speech to MPs:
This Bill responds directly to the Supreme Court Judgment of 24 January and seeks to honour the commitment the Government gave to respect the outcome of the referendum held on 23 June last year.
It is not a Bill about whether the UK should leave the EU, or indeed how it should do so. It is simply about Parliament empowering the Government to implement a decision already made, a point of no return already passed. We asked the people of the UK if they wanted to leave the European Union; they decided they did.
So at the core of this Bill lies a very simple question: do we trust the people or not?
The democratic mandate is clear: the electorate voted for a Government to give them a referendum; Parliament then voted to hold that referendum; the people voted in that referendum and we are now honouring the result of that referendum, as we said we would.
So this is the most straightforward possible Bill necessary to enact the referendum result and respect the Supreme Court’s judgment. Indeed, the House of Commons has already overwhelmingly passed a motion to support the triggering of Article 50 by 31 March. We will respect the will of the people and implement their decision by 31 March.
We voted to give the people the chance to determine our future in a referendum, now we must honour our side of the agreement: to vote to deliver on the result.
So really we are considering that very simple question: do we trust the people or not? For generations, my party has done so. Now that question is before every member of this House.
This Bill provides the power for the Prime Minister to begin that process and honour the decision made by the people of the United Kingdom on 23 June last year, and I commend it to the House. Trust the people.
Sir Keir said the decision would be "difficult" for MPs but argued that "as democrats" politicians should not seek to stop Brexit.
The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill will allow Theresa May to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, meaning talks with the EU can finally begin on our exit.
Mrs May has said she wants to officially start the Brexit process by the end of March.
Some MPs are concerned over the lack of detail given so far to MPs before voting to start Brexit talks.
Chief Remoaner, Tory Ken Clarke, said he would vote against the Bill, arguing it was against the national interest for Britain to leave the EU and Brexit would be a "wonderland" fantasy.
And former Deputy PM Nick Clegg said the Government was "asking the impossible".
But Brexiteers fought back valiantly in the Chamber, with Tory MP John Redwood storming: "What is it about freedom they don't like?"
Tory former minister Owen Paterson suggested the EU referendum was the first poll in recent UK history to go against the wishes of "the establishment".
He added yesterday: "What I would say to those who are going to vote against tomorrow night, just think of the shattering, catastrophic damage to the integrity of the political establishment... if this is not delivered."
Senior Tory Neil Carmichael, MP for Stroud, said he voted to stay in the EU and will be voting for the Bill "with a very, very heavy heart".
He added: "It's absolutely crucial the 48 per cent are properly represented in this process. When we have a general election and an elected government, we don't expect that government just to govern for one bit of the country. We expect that government to govern for the whole part of the country, every aspect of national life."
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