- Rare two-year Parliamentary session to give MPs the time to consider crucial legislation
- Double the length of a normal Parliamentary session
- Great Repeal Bill to be considered alongside other Brexit legislation and government’s domestic agenda
Parliament will sit for two years instead of the usual one to give MPs enough time to fully consider the laws required to make Britain ready for Brexit. This includes the Great Repeal Bill, which by converting existing EU law into UK statute will enable the smoothest possible transition at the point of leaving.
The government will deliver this while also addressing deep-rooted inequalities in our society in order to give everyone the opportunities they deserve. Taken together, the EU exit process and the government’s domestic agenda mean the new Parliament faces a substantial legislative programme.
By doubling the length of the session the government is providing the space for MPs and peers to scrutinise and debate the government’s approach to both Brexit and its domestic agenda without interruption. Next week the government will confirm the legislation required to deliver Brexit, including new laws on immigration, as set out in the government’s white paper on Brexit earlier this year.
Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP, Leader of the House of Commons, said:
Whilst our top priority right now is supporting the victims of the terrible tragedy at Grenfell tower, we also need to look ahead by setting out a legislative programme that not only delivers a successful EU exit but also a domestic agenda which aims to tackle the social injustices in our country.
The UK will spend the next two years preparing for our departure from the European Union in a way that best places us to realise the opportunities ahead and build a fairer society.
This will require substantial amounts of legislation, beginning with the Great Repeal Bill.
We will build the broadest possible consensus for our Brexit plans and that means giving Parliament the maximum amount of time to scrutinise these bills by holding a two-year session of Parliament. It will mean we can work together to deliver a successful Brexit deal and a strong social legislative programme that delivers justice and opportunity to everyone.
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