UK Brexit Bill approved by parliament after Lords back down

UK Prime Minister Theresa May cleared her first major hurdle towards Brexit after parliament on Monday night approved the Bill that allows her to trigger the process of leaving the European Union.

The House of Commons reversed two amendments introduced by the House of Lords that would have guaranteed the rights of EU citizens already living in the UK and also give parliament a vote on whatever deal on Brexit May brought back from Brussels.

Peers rolled over when the Bill was returned to the Lords for its second reading and did not challenge their counterparts in the lower house.

The bill is expected to receive Royal Assent and become law on Tuesday, leaving May free to invoke Article 50, the formal trigger for exit talks - by the last week of March.