Theresa May swipes at Nicola Sturgeon as she welcomes the safe passing of unamended Brexit Bill allowing her to trigger Article 50
The PM said now was the time to "bring our country together" and "to honour the will of the British people"
THERESA MAY has swiped at Nicola Sturgeon for seeking to "play politics and create uncertainty" with a second referendum as she welcomed the passing of the Brexit Bill last night.
Yesterday the Bill passed successfully through Parliament without amendment - which means the PM can trigger Article 50 whenever she chooses.
Addressing Parliament on last week's EU Council summit, the PM took aim at the Scottish First Minister by saying that now was the time to "bring our country together" and "to honour the will of the British people".
Yesterday Nicola Sturgeon's announcement that she would seek a second Scottish referendum threw a spanner in the works - but Downing Street insisted that it was always the intention to trigger later in March.
Mrs May was heckled as said she was working "closely with the devolved administrations including the Scottish government and listening to their proposals".
And she stressed: "The Scottish people do not want a second independence referendum.
"We will be taking in the interests of the whole of the United Kingdom… including the people of Scotland."
She hailed the safe passing of the Brexit Bill and confirmed she would return to the House after triggering Article 50 "later this month".
"This will be a defining moment for this country," she told MPs, vowing to carve "a new role for ourselves in the world".
After days of speculation that she could fire the starting gun this week, it is now thought that Mrs May will start the official process for leaving the EU at the end of March.
This will begin with a letter to the EU Council President Donald Tusk, and a response is expected from them within 48 hours.
Jeremy Corbyn urged the PM to "listen to the collective wisdom of this House" and give MPs a "meaningful" vote on a final Brexit deal.
Last night MPs rejected an amendment from the Lords on the matter - as Brexit Secretary David Davis said it would encourage the EU to give us a bad deal.
"The people’s representatives deserve better than take it or leave it," Mr Corbyn argued.
What did Theresa May say about Article 50 today?
"Finally, Mr Speaker, last night the Bill on Article 50 successfully completed its passage through both Houses – unchanged.
"It will now proceed to Royal Assent in the coming days.
"So we remain on track with the timetable I set out 6 months ago. And I will return to this House before the end of this month to notify when I have formally triggered Article 50 and begun the process through which the United Kingdom will leave the European Union.
"This will be a defining moment for our whole country as we begin to forge a new relationship with Europe and a new role for ourselves in the world.
"We will be a strong, self-governing Global Britain with control once again over our borders and our laws.
"And we will use this moment of opportunity to build a stronger economy and a fairer society so that we secure both the right deal for Britain abroad and a better deal for ordinary working people at home.
"And Mr Speaker, the new relationship with the EU that we negotiate will work for the whole of the United Kingdom.
"That is why we have been working closely with the devolved administrations, including the Scottish government, listening to their proposals and recognising the many areas of common ground that we have – such as protecting workers’ rights and our security from crime and terrorism.
"So Mr Speaker, this is not a moment to play politics or create uncertainty and division. It is a moment to bring our country together; to honour the will of the British people and to shape for them a brighter future and a better Britain.
"And I commend this statement to the House."