Many UK Lawmakers Signal They'll Back Government’s Brexit Bill

Britain's Brexit Secretary David Davis speaks in the House of Commons, London during the second reading debate on the EU (Notification on Withdrawal) Bill on Jan. 31, 2017. PA via AP

LONDON—Dozens of British lawmakers said Tuesday that they will vote to authorize the start of European Union exit talks—signaling likely victory for the government on the vote it had fought in court to avoid.

The House of Commons began a two-day debate on a bill that lets Prime Minister Theresa May trigger two years of divorce negotiations, as the government races to meet a self-imposed March 31 deadline to begin the process.

The government was forced to introduce legislation after a Supreme Court ruling last week torpedoed May’s effort to start the process of leaving the 28-nation bloc without a parliamentary vote.

The government argues that British voters decided to leave the EU in a June 23 referendum, and no further authorization is needed.

Brexit Secretary David Davis said legislators had to answer a simple question: “Do we trust the people or not?”

Britain's Brexit Secretary David Davis arrives for a Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street, London Jan. 31, 2017. British lawmakers are starting debate on a bill authorizing the start of European Union exit talks, as the government races to meet a self-imposed March 31 deadline to begin the process. Yui Mok/PA via AP