Brexit: the 15 amendments in brief - TDS

James Rossiter Senior Global Strategist at TD Securities explained that on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, the UK House of Commons begins a series of votes on 15 amendments on the Withdrawal Bill made earlier this year by the House of Lords.

Key Quotes:

"In back-to-back sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons this week, the UK House of Commons will undertake a series of debates and votes on amendments made by the House of Lords to the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill."

"This Bill is the omnibus bill required in order for the UK to withdraw from the EU--in essence it copies all existing EU laws into domestic UK law. It was passed by the House of Commons in January by a relatively narrow majority of 324 to 295."

The 15 amendments in brief

The Lords have spent recent months debating hundreds of amendments to the bill, 15 of which were approved and mark a defeat to the government's position. The vast majority of these amendments, if approved, would point to a softer form of Brexit.

The amendments can be summarised as follows:

• 1. Customs Union: The government must report on its efforts to negotiate a customs union.
• 2. EEA Membership: The government must negotiate membership of the European Economic Area (the "Norway model"). 
• 3. Meaningful Vote: Parliament must approve the Withdrawal and Transition agreements, and can dictate next steps to the government if the deal is rejected. 
• 4. Brexit Day: Remove the "29 March 2019" date from the Withdrawal Bill. 
• 5. "Henry VIII" Powers: Prevent ministers from unilaterally changing EU laws when incorporated into UK law without consent of parliament. 
• 6. Maintain the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. 
• 7. Limit the government from changing "retained EU law" on employment, consumer standards, and environmental standards when translated into UK law. 
• 8. Removes parts of the bill giving ministers power to make regulation specifying under what circumstances individuals can challenge retained EU law. 
• 9. Allow ministers to make "necessary" changes to legislation, not "appropriate" changes. 
• 10. Give parliament a say in future negotiations. 
• 11. Unaccompanied child refugees allowed to be reunited with relatives in the UK. 
• 12. Northern Ireland: Enshrines the Good Friday Agreement in the Withdrawal Bill. 
• 13. Form a parliamentary committee to recommend whether regulations in the Withdrawal Bill require further scrutiny via "sifting". 
• 14. Maintain EU environmental principals and standards. 
• 15. Allow the government to replicate EU law and participate in EU agencies.

For the likelihood of key amendments passing, see here: Brexit: likelihood of key amendments passing - TDS