UK PARLIAMENT APPROVES ARTICLE 50 BY LARGE MAJORITY|498對114票 英脫歐案國會第一階段通過

Britain's exit from the European Union cleared its first legislative hurdle on Wednesday, paving the way for the government to launch exit talks by the end of March. The Supreme Court had previously ruled that the Prime Minister, Teresa May, had to seek Parliamentary approval for the right to trigger Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty. This is the legal process for leaving the European Union. After two days of speeches and debate, lawmakers voted by 498 to 114 in favour of allowing the bill to progress to the next stage. Earlier they rejected an attempt to throw out the bill by pro-EU Scottish nationalists. The opposition Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, had pledged his party's support for the bill, but 47 of his lawmakers defied his order and voted against it. Labour and other opposition parties will try to amend the bill at the next stage - due to start next week - to give greater transparency over the Brexit talks. The bill could complete the legislative process by March 7. May wants to begin exit negotiations with the EU by March 31, which may last two years.