The legislation, proposed by Labour MP Yvette Cooper, aims to force May to request an extension for Brexit, which is currently set for Friday. Later on Monday the bill got its final rubber stamp approval from Queen Elizabeth. The law will reportedly allow lawmakers to make legally binding changes to May's requested departure date during a debate slated for Tuesday.
ROYAL ASSENT: Having been agreed by both Houses of Parliament, the #EUWithdrawal5Bill has now received Royal Assent.
— UK House of Commons (@HouseofCommons) 8 апреля 2019 г.
A motion under the terms of the European Union Withdrawal (No.5) Act 2019 — on the Article 50 extension to be requested from the EU — will be debated tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/70BH8UbMDP
READ MORE: May Says Brexit Choice Narrowed to Leaving EU With Deal or Remaining in Bloc
The UK Parliament has rejected the government's withdrawal deal three times, although it has also voted against leaving without an agreement. After the deal was last voted down in late March, European Council President Donald Tusk called for a special council meeting on 10 April. The European Commission said at the time that a no-deal Brexit had become a possible scenario.
May has advocated giving up access to the EU customs union and using the post-Brexit transition period to agree a UK-EU trade deal that would allow her country to become a global trading nation.
READ MORE: EU's Brexit Negotiator Says Brussels Stands Fully Behind Ireland
Meanwhile, the EU has reportedly been preparing for all scenarios for a long time, and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said last week that there would be no short Brexit delay past the new deadline of 12 April.
