- Government wants to pass vital laws for implementing Brexit before March 2019
- It is due to spend 64 hours over eight days in the Commons being scrutinised
- But ministers fear defeat on hundreds of wrecking amendments tabled
Flagship Brexit laws will not be returned to the Commons until at least the middle of November after hundreds of wrecking amendments were tabled, it emerged today.
The so-called Repeal Bill is due to undergo eight full days of line by line scrutiny by MPs but none of the time has yet been scheduled.
Many MPs expected the legislation – which transfers EU laws to the UK statute book to ensure a smooth Brexit – to be down for debate next week.
But the BBC claimed today it would not reappear until at least the week beginning November 13.
Many MPs (pictured today during PMQs) expected flagship Brexit laws – which transfers EU laws to the UK statute book to ensure a smooth Brexit – to be down for debate next week
The debate was never officially scheduled and the Brexit department said there was no delay.
Not starting the long committee stage until November makes it highly unlikely the laws, officially known as the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, will clear the Commons before Christmas.
Remain-supporting MPs have tabled hundreds of amendments to the legislation, many of which are aimed at stopping the Prime Minister quitting Brexit talks without a deal.
Others try to keep Britain inside the EU single market – seen by Brexiteers as thwarting the EU referendum.
Labour’s Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer said: ‘This is further proof that the government’s Brexit strategy is in paralysis.
‘The negotiations are in deadlock and now a crucial piece of legislation is facing further delay.’
MPs passed the legislation in principle by 318 to 296 in September.
![Committee stage debate has never been officially scheduled and the Brexit department run by David Davis (pictured with Theresa May en route to Brussels on Monday) said there was no delay](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/10/18/12/4564CEF400000578-0-image-a-30_1508325806694.jpg)
Committee stage debate has never been officially scheduled and the Brexit department run by David Davis (pictured with Theresa May en route to Brussels on Monday) said there was no delay