Theresa May confirms government will publish white paper on Brexit
Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed that a white paper detailing the government’s plan for leaving the European Union will be published.
At Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, May said that she will publish a formal plan as she laid out in her major speech on Brexit last week.
She said: "I set out that bold plan for a global Britain last week and I recognise there is an appetite in this house to see that plan set out in a white paper.
“I can confirm to the house that our plan will be set out in a white paper."
She maintained that Parliament “will have every opportunity to provide scrutiny” as Britain extricates itself from the bloc.
The Prime Minister had been hesitant in publishing a formal white paper as she feared that ardent Remain MPs could try to amend the Brexit bill.
On Tuesday, the government lost its appeal when the Supreme Court ruled that parliamentary consent is needed before triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty, which starts a two-year clock on negotiations with the EU.
Brexit Secretary David Davis will reportedly publish a “straightforward” Brexit bill as early as Thursday, in order for the bill to be pushed through by May’s deadline to activate the clause by the end of March.