BRITAIN’S Queen Elizabeth granted royal assent to Prime Minister Theresa May’s flagship Brexit legislation yesterday, ending months of debate over the legislation that will formally end the country’s European Union membership.

The House of Commons speaker John Bercow said the EU withdrawal bill, passed by both houses of parliament last week, had been signed into law by the monarch, to cheers from Conservative lawmakers.

“I have to notify the House in accordance with the Royal Assent Act 1967 that her Majesty has signified her royal assent to the following acts ... European Union Withdrawal Act 2018,” Commons Speaker John Bercow told lawmakers during a session of the house.

The bill was finally approved after months of debate. The legislation will translate thousands of pieces of EU law into British statute. Pro-EU lawmakers and members of the House of Lords tried to amend it to soften the terms of Britain’s departure from the bloc.

Most of the changes were reversed by narrow votes. Pro-EU lawmakers said they will try to defeat the government on other EU-related legislation if it tries to push for a “hard Brexit” that disrupts close economic ties between Britain and Europe.

(SD-Agencies)