Brexit vote: Clive Lewis quits shadow cabinet as MPs back bill

MPs have overwhelmingly agreed to let the
government begin the UK's departure from the EU
as they voted for the Brexit bill.
The draft legislation was approved by 494 votes to
122, and now moves to the House of Lords.
Shadow business secretary Clive Lewis was one of
52 Labour MPs to defy party orders to back the bill
and he resigned from the front bench.
PM Theresa May wants to trigger formal Brexit
talks by the end of March.
She will do this by invoking Article 50 of the
Lisbon Treaty, but requires Parliament's
permission before doing so.

Mr Lewis, who earlier said he was undecided on
whether to support the European Union
(Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, announced his
resignation as MPs began voting for the final time.
He said he "cannot, in all good conscience, vote
for something I believe will ultimately harm the
city I have the honour to represent, love and call
home".
Leader Jeremy Corbyn said he understood the
difficulties the vote presented some of his MPs but
said they had been ordered to back the Article 50
because the party would not "block Brexit".
Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, who missed
last week's initial vote on the bill, backed it this
time.
She told the BBC she had "a lot of misgivings
about the idea of a Tory Brexit" and predicted the
UK would "come to regret it", but added: "I'm a
loyal member of the shadow cabinet and I'm loyal
to Jeremy Corbyn."
The Labour rebellion was five MPs up on last
week's vote, while former Chancellor Ken Clarke
was again the only Conservative to vote against
the two-clause bill.
During the voting, SNP MPs were reprimanded by
deputy speaker Lindsay Hoyle after they started
singing Ode to Joy, the European Union anthem.
Afterwards, Brexit Secretary David Davis hailed the
"historic vote", adding: "It is now time for
everyone, whichever way they voted in the
referendum, to unite to make a success of the
important task at hand for our country."
Peers will now consider the draft legislation, and a
government source told BBC political editor Laura
Kuenssberg: "If the Lords don't want to face an
overwhelming public call to be abolished they
must get on and protect democracy and pass this
bill."
Earlier the bill survived several attempts to change
its wording and add extra conditions.
These included Labour MP Harriet Harman's bid to
protect the residence rights of EU citizens in the
UK, which was outvoted by 332 votes to 290, with
three Conservative MPs rebelling.
A Liberal Democrat bid for a referendum on the
terms of the UK leaving the EU was defeated by
340 votes to 33.
Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer insisted
Labour would keep "chipping away" at the
government's plans, pushing for concessions on
tariff-free access to the single market and the
future of the UK's tax regime.
Once the bill passes the Commons, it will be
debated in the House of Lords after it returns from
recess on 20 February.
During the wide-ranging debate, Labour former
minister Caroline Flint said rules needed to be
brought in to manage migration, as the "net
benefits" had "not been equally shared across the
country".
SNP justice spokeswoman Joanna Cherry warned
that the government could face "a slew of legal
claims" if it did not address the rights of EU
nationals living in the UK before starting the Brexit
process.
Brexit minister David Jones said "once again" that
the government recognised the issue of EU
nationals' rights was "extremely important" and
will address it "as a matter of priority".
He urged all MPs to withdraw their amendments
so "we can start the process of withdrawal" from
the European Union.
On Tuesday, MPs rejected a bid by Labour's Chris
Leslie to force the government to consult
Parliament on the deal struck with the EU before it
is finalised.
It came after ministers pledged that a "meaningful"
vote would be offered.
Labour and some Tories had pushed for MPs to
have a decisive say on the final terms, but the 326
to 293 vote meant the bill remained unchanged.