THE leader of the opposition at Ribble Valley Council has called it a ‘dark day for the mother of parliaments’ following the government’s successful bid to end EU law in the UK.

MPs backed the EU Withdrawal Bill by 326 votes to 290 despite critics warning it represented a “power grab” by ministers.

Cllr Allan Knox, the leader of the Ribble Valley Liberal Democrats, said MPs, especially those who campaigned to leave the EU on the basis of ‘taking back control’ for our parliament, should be ashamed.

He said: “They have abdicated their responsibility to scrutinise legislation and relinquished parliamentary sovereignty to Theresa May’s unrepresentative cabal.

“This is a dark day for the mother of parliaments. The Liberal Democrats will fight to amend the bill in Committee to stop this affront to democracy.”

“Labour rebels have handed the government sweeping anti-democratic powers.

“A significant number walked hand in hand with the Tories."