Documents to download

The European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 5) Bill is a House of Commons private member’s bill sponsored in the House of Commons by Yvette Cooper (Labour MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford). The bill creates provisions related to extensions under article 50(3). The bill had its second reading and remaining stages in the House of Commons in one day on 3 April 2019. This followed a business of the House motion moved by Oliver Letwin (Conservative MP for West Dorset), passed by 312 votes to 311, a majority of one. The motion also included provisions that would allow further parliamentary time in the Commons for the consideration of Lords amendments and messages on the bill. The bill passed its second reading in the House of Commons by 315 votes to 310, a majority of five. 

The committee stage was taken in committee of the whole House. Three amendments were made to the bill without division. Two of these were drafting amendments moved by Yvette Cooper. The third amendment agreed to at committee stage was new clause 13 moved by the Government, which made changes to the procedure for amending the date of ‘exit day’ in domestic law.

The Chairman of Ways and Means reported that the committee had gone through the bill and made amendments. There was no further debate at this stage.

There was no further debate at third reading. The bill received its third reading by 313 votes to 312, a majority of one


Documents to download

Related posts

  • Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill: HL Bill 96 of 2024–25

    The government has committed to reducing and reclaiming public money lost to fraud and error. The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill contains provisions to extend Cabinet Office and Public Sector Fraud Authority powers to tackle fraud and error outside the tax and benefits system, and also expands powers to tackle fraud within the benefits system. The bill is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 15 May 2025.

    Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill: HL Bill 96 of 2024–25
  • End of the second world war: 80th anniversary

    2025 marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day and Victory over Japan Day, events which in 1945 brought an end to the second world war. On those days 80 years ago, celebrations erupted across Britain. However, world leaders and domestic politicians were aware of the numerous problems still to be tackled, such as reconstruction, demobilisation and the legacy of the development and use of the atomic bomb.

    End of the second world war: 80th anniversary
  • Reforming the House of Lords in the shadow of the Parliament Act

    In March 1925, the House of Lords debated a motion calling for legislation to be introduced to reform the House of Lords. Whilst composition was among the issues raised, debate focused on the loss of the House’s powers, which were curtailed by the Parliament Act 1911. The 1911 act had also called for the House to be reconstituted on a popular rather than hereditary basis. This briefing looks back at the discussion.

    Reforming the House of Lords in the shadow of the Parliament Act