‘Time to get on with LEAVING’ May warns rebels not to ‘obstruct’ start of Brexit

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Theresa May insisted further attempts to delay Brexit would not be accepted

In a statement to the Commons, the Prime Minister insisted she would not accept further attempts to delay or water down her timetable for triggering the Article 50 EU departure clause.

She said: "It is time to get on with leaving the European Union."

Her stark warning came after SNP and Labour MPs tabled dozens of amendments to the Government's European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, drafted to give her the powers to activate Article 50.

Senior Tory Euro-sceptics fear up to 27 MPs from their party could break ranks to side with the opposition in an attempt to delay the measure.

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Mrs May told the Commons yesterday: "Our European partners now want to get on with the negotiations, so do I, and so does this House, which last week voted by a majority of 384 in support of the Government triggering Article 50.

It is time to get on with leaving the European Union

Theresa May

"There are of course further stages for the Bill in committee and in the Lords and it is right that this process should be completed properly.

"But the message is clear to all – this House has spoken and now is not the time to obstruct the democratically expressed wishes of the British people.

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Her warning came after SNP and Labour MPs have tabled dozens of amendments to the EU bill

"It is time to get on with leaving the European Union and building an independent, self-governing, global Britain."

Brexit-backing Tory backbenchers were last night urging voters to pressure their MPs not to try to sabotage the EU Bill.

Steve Baker, chairman of the European Reform Group of Euro-sceptic MPs, said the amendments were "all unnecessary and some of them are wrecking".

"They're all unnecessary, some of them are wrecking and I am expecting to vote against them."

He urged voters to contact MPs press them to keep the Bill "simple".

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Former ministers Anna Soubry (pictured) and Dominic Grieve were thought to be among possible rebels

With a Government majority of just 16 in the Commons, the margin could be tight in a series of votes on amendments.

Former ministers Anna Soubry and Dominic Grieve were thought to be among the potential rebels, alongside veteran pro-European Ken Clarke, the only Tory to oppose the Bill in last week's second reading vote.

In the Commons, Mrs May also sought to ease concerns over the rights of EU nationals already in the UK, which reports last week suggested as another potential flashpoint for rebellion.

The PM said the "general view" from the summit in Valletta was that the UK and EU need to reach an agreement that applies equally to citizens of both parties.

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Ken Clarke was the only Tory to oppose the Bill in last week’s second reading vote

This means that Britain taking a unilateral decision to guarantee EU nationals' status is "not the right way forward", Mrs May said.

"But, as I have said before, EU citizens living in the UK make a vital contribution to our economy and our society and without them we would be poorer and our public services weaker," she said.

"So we will make securing the reciprocal agreement that will guarantee their status a priority as soon as the negotiations begin, and I want to see this agreed as soon as possible because that is in everyone's interests."

Downing Street officials yesterday indicated that the Prime Minister was opposed to any amendment of the EU Bill.

Mrs May's official spokeswoman said: "We've been very clear, we think this should be a straightforward bill about giving the Government the power to deliver on the decision of the British people.

"Parliament has already legislated to put the decision in the hands of the British people and we are not going to allow there to be attempts to remain inside the EU or to re-join it through the back door."

The spokeswoman added: "The Government has a very clear approach, it has a mandate from the British people for the UK to leave the EU and to carry out that decision. That's what we are focused on."

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