Article 50: MPs will get five days to debate Brexit bill

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Legislation granting Prime Minister Theresa May power to launch Brexit talks has been formally unveiled today.

House of Commons leader David Lidington said MPs will have five days to debate Article 50, starting from next Tuesday.

It means that the House of Commons will vote on the legislation on 8 February.

MPs challenged the amount of time allocated, claiming it was insufficient. Labour MP Chuka Umunna said: "Why are this government trying to muzzle the voice of people in parliament with the timetabling of this bill?"

Lidington responded: "Five days alloted can hardly be described as as muzzling."

He added: "Parliament has plenty of time to have a debate on this in full."

Read More: "No deal" or "Bad deal" – Six things we learned from May's Brexit speech

It comes after Supreme Court judges this week ruled that May would need the approval of parliament to trigger Article 50 and begin negotiations.

However, judges also ruled out the need for the Prime Minister to secure the backing of the devolved assemblies.

The government maintains that it will follow through on the legislation to trigger Article 50 by the end of March.