The Withdrawal Agreement Bill has been the most pressing issue in British politics since the historic referendum vote in June 2016. The bill is essentially the legal framework that will govern the UK`s departure from the European Union. After months of negotiations and political wrangling, the Withdrawal Agreement Bill has finally made significant progress towards becoming law.
The bill was first presented to parliament in December 2018, but it faced significant opposition from MPs who felt that it did not represent the best interests of the country. Prime Minister Theresa May was unable to secure enough support for the bill, and it was defeated three times in the House of Commons.
However, after May`s resignation and the appointment of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, the bill has made significant progress. In October 2019, Johnson was able to negotiate a revised deal with the EU that addressed some of the concerns raised by MPs. The revised deal was presented to parliament, and after a series of votes, it was approved in principle.
Since then, the bill has gone through a number of stages in the parliamentary process. In November 2019, the bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons, meaning that MPs had given their approval in principle. However, the bill faced a number of amendments from MPs who sought to make changes to the text.
In December 2019, the bill was finally approved by the House of Commons after a series of amendments were made. The revised bill addressed some of the concerns raised by MPs, including protections for workers` rights and environmental standards. It also included provisions for a transition period during which the UK would continue to follow EU rules while a new trade deal was negotiated.
The bill then moved to the House of Lords, where it faced further scrutiny and potential amendments. However, in January 2020, the bill was finally passed by the House of Lords, meaning that it had completed its journey through parliament.
The next stage for the Withdrawal Agreement Bill is for it to receive Royal Assent, which is the final step in the legislative process. Once it has received Royal Assent, the bill will become law, meaning that the UK will have a legally binding framework for its departure from the EU.
The progress made on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill is significant, as it shows that the UK is making steady progress towards leaving the EU. However, there is still a long way to go before the UK`s departure is complete. The next step is for the UK and the EU to negotiate a new trade deal, which will determine the future relationship between the two parties.
Overall, the progress made on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill is a positive step forward for the UK, but there is still much work to be done. As the negotiations continue, it is important that the UK and the EU work together to secure a deal that is beneficial for both parties.