Henry Smith MP has voted in favour of the Government’s European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill (Wednesday, 8th February), as Members of Parliament approved its third reading by 494 votes to 122 in the House of Commons. The Bill now progresses to the House of Lords.

Speaking in Central Lobby following the Bill’s progression Henry said;

“The legislation to take us out of the EU, as Parliament was instructed to do by the largest ever vote of the British people last June, has completed its process through the House of Commons and now makes its way to the Lords.

“The Bill was kept concise and clear, as was the majority British people’s will – to leave the European Union. Before the referendum the Government wrote to every household in the country to confirm their commitment to enact whichever decision was taken by the electorate, and the new Prime Minister has adhered to this.

“On issues such as the rights of EU nationals the Prime Minister has been clear. Government policy is to guarantee the rights of EU citizens already in the UK. The British Government wants this confirmed, however reciprocity for UK nationals in the EU isn’t being guaranteed by our European partners. The job of the British Government is rightly to put British citizens first.”

The Bill will have the first day of its second reading in the House of Lords on Monday, 20th February.