European Union (Withdrawal) Bill 2017-19. House of Commons Second Reading, 7-11 September 2017

Background
Following the 8 June 2017 General Election in the United Kingdom the State Opening of Parliament took place on the 21 June 2017. This marked the formal start of the parliamentary year and included the Queen's Speech which set out the government’s agenda for the 2017-19 session, outlining proposed policies and legislation.

The programme was dominated by proposed legislation dealing with the United Kingdom's planned leaving of the European Union. Eight of the twenty seven bills to be introduced were connected with Brexit.

+ European Union (Withdrawal) Bill (introduced on the 13 July 2017)
+ Customs Bill
+ Trade Bill
+ Immigration Bill
+ Fisheries Bill
+ Agriculture Bill
+ Nuclear Safeguards Bill
+ International Sanctions Bill

Even though the bill was introduced in July 2017 parliamentary scrutiny in practice would only begin in the autumn of 2017 after the summer break. Opposition parties, human rights groups and the leaders of Scotland and Wales criticised aspects of the bill and suggested they would call for substantive amendments.

+ 1st Reading: 13 July 2017
+ 2nd Reading: 7-11 September 2017This ESO record provides information associated with the Second Reading debate and vote on the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill 2017-2019 in the House of Commons between the 7-11 September 2017. On the 11 September 2017 MPs voted voted 326 to 290 in favour of the Bill.

More detailed consideration of the proposed legislation would arise at later readings in the House of Commons and House of Lords.

To follow the progress of the bill throughout parliament click here.

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

UK: Parliament: House of Commons Library: Briefing Paper, No.8079 (01.09.17): European Union (Withdrawal) Bill http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8079/CBP-8079.pdf

The Conversation, 07.09.17: Q+A: how does the EU Withdrawal Bill pass through parliament? https://theconversation.com/q-a-how-does-the-eu-withdrawal-bill-pass-through-parliament-83609

Blog: UK in a Changing Europe, 07.09.17: What you need to know about the EU (Withdrawal) Bill http://ukandeu.ac.uk/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-eu-withdrawal-bill/

Blog: Institute for Government, 04.09.17: The Brexit Parliament starts to hit its stride https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/blog/brexit-parliament-starts-hit-its-stride

EurActiv, 11.09.17: British MPs vote on accepting EU rules as UK law http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/british-mps-vote-on-accepting-eu-rules-as-uk-law/

BBC News, 11.09.17: Brexit: Ministers warn of 'chaos' if repeal bill rejected http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41218647

UK: GOV.UK: Prime Minister's Office: Press Release, 12.09.17: PM statement on EU Withdrawal Bill: 12 Sept 2017 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-statement-on-eu-withdrawal-bill-12-sept-2017

The Guardian, 12.09.17: Senior Tories warn May over Brexit bill after MPs vote for second reading https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/12/theresa-may-eu-withdrawal-bill-brexit-stance-conservatives

In Facts, 12.09.17: 12 ways this monstrosity of a bill must be changed https://infacts.org/12-ways-this-monstrosity-of-a-bill-must-be-changed/

Conservative Home, 12.09.17: Labour’s vote against the EU Withdrawal Bill ties them in further knots https://www.conservativehome.com/leftwatch/2017/09/labours-vote-against-the-eu-withdrawal-bill-ties-them-in-further-knots.html

Blog: UK in a Changing Europe, 15.09.17: The second reading of the EU Withdrawal Bill: beginning of the end or end of the beginning? http://ukandeu.ac.uk/the-second-reading-of-the-eu-withdrawal-bill-beginning-of-the-end-or-end-of-the-beginning/

EurActiv, 12.09.17: ‘Repeal bill’ passes hurdle in reprieve for British PM May http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/repeal-bill-passes-hurdle-in-reprieve-for-british-pm-may/

Politico, 12.09.17: Brexit bill passes first British parliamentary hurdle http://www.politico.eu/article/brexit-bill-passes-first-british-parliamentary-hurdle/

BBC News, 12.09.17: Brexit: EU repeal bill wins first Commons vote http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41235522

Conservative Home, 12.09.17: The Commons has acted as the legislature of a sovereign country https://www.conservativehome.com/thetorydiary/2017/09/the-commons-has-acted-as-the-legislature-of-a-sovereign-country.html

UK: GOV.UK: Department for Exiting the European Union: News, 12.09.17: Landmark Brexit legislation passes Second Reading https://www.gov.uk/government/news/landmark-brexit-legislation-passes-second-reading

Blog: Open Europe, 11.09.17: Parliamentary battle over Repeal Bill will really heat up in October http://openeurope.org.uk/today/blog/parliamentary-battle-repeal-bill-will-really-heat-october/

EUObserver, 12.09.17: UK parliament passes Brexit bill https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/138974

The Conversation, 12.09.17: Government’s Brexit bill survives its first vote, but there may be trouble ahead https://theconversation.com/governments-brexit-bill-survives-its-first-vote-but-there-may-be-trouble-ahead-83853

Blog: Welsh Brexit, 27.09.17: Watch analysis of the EU (Withdrawal) Bill 2nd reading http://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/brexit/2017/09/27/watch-analysis-of-the-eu-withdrawal-bill-2nd-reading/

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