Key Brexit laws to return to commons in fortnight

By Harriet Line, Press Association Political Staff

Key Brexit trade legislation will return to the Commons in a fortnight, Andrea Leadsom has announced.

The Trade Bill and the Taxation (Cross-border) Trade Bill, also referred to as the Customs Bill, are set to be debated by MPs on July 17 and 16 respectively.

The Government could suffer further defeats when the trade legislation returns to the House for further scrutiny, particularly with Tory MPs threatening to rebel over seeking a customs union with the EU post-Brexit.

Commons Leader Mrs Leadsom told MPs: "The provisional business for the week commencing the 16th July will include, on Monday 16th July, remaining stages of the Taxation (Cross-border) Trade Bill, Tuesday 17th July, remaining stages of the Trade Bill."

Shadow Commons leader Valerie Vaz later pressed Mrs Leadsom on when the Government's Brexit White Paper would be published.

She asked: "Can the Leader confirm when the White Paper will be published, and could we have a statement?"

Mrs Leadsom said it would be "brought forward just as soon as we can".

"The Prime Minister has said before summer recess, that's too long to go."

And Ms Vaz suggested Cabinet ministers "go en masse" to the Irish border during its Chequers away day on Friday, as she noted that the Prime Minister has yet to visit the border.

Mrs Leadsom replied: "I don't think we'll have time to go to the Irish border during the course of the day tomorrow.

"Good suggestion, but possibly without our broomsticks we might struggle to get there in time."

Pic by Victoria Jones/PA Wire