Britain’s push to leave the European Union has cleared its first legislative hurdle.
Members of the UK parliament have voted in favour of allowing the introduction of a bill that would let the government begin Brexit negotiations.
MPs voted by 498 to 114 in favour of the bill proceeding to the next legislative stage.
The result paves the way for the government to launch divorce proceedings with the EU by the end of March.
Earlier the MPs rejected an attempt by pro-EU Scottish nationalists to throw out the bill.
A majority of voters in Scotland and Northern Ireland had voted to stay in the EU in last year’s referendum on the issue.
