A LEADING business figure has welcomed Parliament passing the Brexit Bill enabling the government to trigger the process of leaving the European Union.

Mike Damms, chief executive of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Firms hate uncertainty and this will allow negotiations to start.

“The sooner they do the better so business gets some idea of what the final deal with be.

“The government can now get with it.”

The speedy passage of the legislation through the houses of Commons and Lords on Thursday means Prime Minister Theresa May can trigger article 50 to begin talks by the end of the month.

It split East Lancashire politicians.

Labour MPs Kate Hollern, Julie Cooper and Graham Jones all backed requiring a meaningful Westminster vote on the UKs’ deal to leave the European Union.

Their East Lancashire Tory counterparts Nigel Evans, Andrew Stephenson and Jake Berry all voted to reject the House of Lords amendment requiring Mrs May to bring the final terms back to MPs.

The House of Commons also rejected a Peers bid to guarantee the rights of EU citizens living in the UK after Brexit.

While Burnley MP Mrs Cooper and the Blackburn counterpart Kate Hollern both voted in favour of the Lords move, Hyndburn MP Graham Jones abstained because of his worries about immigration.

Ribble Valley’s Mr Evans, Rossendale and Darwen’s Mr Berry and Pendle’s Mr Stephenson all voted to scupper the amendment.

The House of Lords later climbed down on both issues.

Pendle Liberal Democrat Peer Lord Greaves, who voted against the government twice, described Thursday’s proceedings as ‘disgraceful’ and left the UK Parliament as the only one in Europe without a final say on Brexit.

He said: “I voted to ensure the rights of EU citizens in the UK after Brexit to end the despair many of them are in.

“It is disgraceful Mrs May is denying Parliament its hard-won rights over the centuries to make important decisions like this.”

Burnley MP Julie Cooper said: “The outcome of Thursday’s votes in a n affront to British Sovereignty.”

Mr Jones said: “It is ironic that the government it denying Parliament a vote on a move that is supposed to be about Parliamentary sovereignty.

“I have been concerned about immigration for many years and abstained on the other vote because I feel the question of the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and vice versa should be part of the Brexit negotiations.”

Mr Evans, urging MPs to reject both amendments, said: “I feel very passionate about the fact that EU citizens living in the United Kingdom should be allowed to continue doing so.

“Negotiations could take up to two years, but there is no reason at all why an agreement on those citizens should not come a lot earlier.”

The bill is expected to receive Royal Assent and become law on Tuesday.

The result came as Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that she intended to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence when Brexit negotiations are reaching a conclusion.