The UK government have published the Notice of Withdrawal from the European Union bill, which is due to enter Parliament next week.
The text released by Parliament says it is a Bill to “confer power on the Prime Minister to notify, under Article 50(2) of the Treaty on European Union, the United Kingdom’s intention to withdraw from the EU.”
It will give Prime Minister Theresa May the power to trigger Brexit under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which she has vowed to do by the end of March.
The bill’s introduction to Parliament comes just days after Theresa May and her government lost a major battle in the Supreme Court, meaning Parliament must now be given a vote on the final Brexit package before it is official.
May had previously argued that the government could use their prerogative powers to withdraw from the European Union themselves, without a final vote by MPs.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn confirmed that a three-line whip would be imposed on Labour MPs when it comes to a vote, adding that it was “clear” he wanted all his MPs to vote in favour of the bill.
In a video with Sky News, he added: “It’s clearly a three-line whip. It is a vote on the Article 50 … We will put out a statement today to our members that we want them to vote for Article 50.”
“I fully understand the pressures and issues that members are under, those who represent leave constituencies and those who represent remain constituencies. Labour is in the almost unique position of having MPs representing constituencies in both directions and very strongly in both directions.”
Members of his party have argued their opposition to this move, saying it should be a free vote to reflect the divisions within the party. Shadow business secretary Clive Lewis has already said he would vote against the bill, and may even continue campaigning against it
The bill will be debated in the House of Commons next Tuesday and Wednesday, January 31st and February 1st.