VIDEO: Cheers as EU Withdrawal Bill Given Royal Assent and Brexit Day Set in Law

QUEREN FARAGE
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Liam Deacon

Her Majesty the Queen has formally signed the highly contested European Union (EU) Withdrawal Bill into law, bringing Brexit one step closer.

It was finally granted Royal Assent after hundreds of amendments, sabotage attempts in the House of Lords, and one Commons defeat. Lawyers For Britain said that “Brexit is now enshrined in law.”

To cheers in the lower house, Tory Speaker John Bercow announced to MPs that the Royal Assent had been granted on Tuesday.

Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage responded by tweeting “Hooray!” David Kurten, a UKIP member of the London Assembly, hailed it as a “great news”. The party’s official Twitter account called it “the end of the beginning.”

The key piece of legislation will bring huge amounts of EU laws into British law and set Brexit day firmly on the 29th of March next year.

The act also paves the way for the repealing of the 1972 European Communities Act, which underpins EU membership.

The piece of law took the UK into the EU and meant that, for the first time, European law became superior to laws passed in the British Parliament.

Theresa May told ministers it was a “historic moment for our country and a significant step towards delivering on the will of the British people”, according to her spokesman.

The Prime Minister thanked Brexit Secretary David Davis, Lords leader Baroness Natalie Evans, and Chief Whip Julian Smith “for all their hard work in delivering the legislation which is a major building block for the UK’s bright future outside of the EU”.

No 10 said it was “very clear the Cabinet was pleased that the Bill was receiving Royal Assent today”.

Other key moments for Brexit to follow include the Customs Bill, Trade Bill, Immigration Bill, Fisheries Bill, and Agriculture Bill, with Parliament promised a “meaningful say” in the final deal.

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