Lords Amendments to European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill

The Government introduced the most straightforward possible Bill necessary to enact the referendum result and respect the Supreme Court's judgment. This Bill has a simple purpose: to allow the Prime Minister to notify under article 50 and start the two-year negotiation process.

Lords amendment 1 sought to require the Government to act unilaterally to bring forward plans within three months to secure the status of European Union and European economic area citizens and their family members living in the United Kingdom. On this matter, the Government have been consistently clear: we want to secure the status of EU citizens already living in Britain, and the status of British nationals living in other member states, as early as possible.

The second Lords amendment effectively sought to prohibit the Prime Minister from walking away from negotiations, even if she thinks the European Union is offering her a bad or very bad deal.  The Government will be undertaking these negotiations and must have the freedom to walk away from a deal that sets out to punish the UK for a decision to leave the EU, as some in Europe have suggested.  Of course, the Government will be seeking a mutually beneficial new relationship, but tying the Government's hands in this way would be among the worst ways of achieving that deal.

I have a straightforward position on this matter; I am optimistic about the future and have complete confidence in the Prime Minister's capacity to negotiate the best possible deal for the UK's future relationship both with the European Union and the rest of the world.