The bill enacting the UK decision to leave the EU finally became law. After months of debates, yesterday the House of Commons speaker John Bercow told lawmakers: « I have to notify the House in accordance with the Royal Assent Act 1967 that her Majesty has signified her royal assent to the following acts … European Union Withdrawal Act 2018″. If the text was already adopted by the British Parliament last week, the royal assent is the last step of the legislative procedure.
This law repeals the 1972 European Communities Act, which took Britain into the EU and meant that European law took precedence over laws passed in the UK Parliament. In the same time, it also allows Britain to integrate in UK legislation, European laws it wants to keep. This will permit to avoid any legal disruption. Furthermore, the EU Withdrawal Act, as it is now known, confirms the official date the UK will leave the EU as March 29, 2019 at 23h00 (local hour, meaning 00h00 for Brussels), at the end of the two-year article 50 withdrawal process.
As this law ends a rough legislative process, Theresa May should make her « negotiating hand much stronger » according to Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg. Despite the fact that demonstrations asking for a second referendum are still happening, chances for a possible reconsideration of UK decision to leave the EU are now really low.
Maurane Delpeuch
For further information:
Reuters website: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-parliament/british-queen-approves-brexit-law-that-will-end-membership-of-eu-idUSKBN1JM17H
BBC news: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-44615245
