Parliament voted in favour of triggering Article 50 despite opposition from a group which included three Nottinghamshire MPs.
Rushcliffe Conservative MP Ken Clarke and Nottingham North Labour MP Graham Allen, plus Nottingham South Labour MP Lilian Greenwood, were among 122 members who opposed the strategy set out by the Government.
It followed a long debate on Wednesday in the House of Commons to decide the formal process of leaving the European Union.
The bill was approved by 494 votes to 122 – a majority of 372 – meaning it will now pass through the House of Lords.
Defying instructions from his party, Mr Clarke, MP for Rushcliffe, said he would follow his constituents’ wishes and voted against the bill. Rushcliffe voted to remain in the Union in the June referendum.
Graham Allen and Lilian Greenwood also voted against the bill, but both had said they were unhappy with the terms the Government starting talks with – rather than being opposed to leaving the EU outright.
In particular, Ms Greenwood had wanted to see the Government begin talks with the promise EU citizens already living in Britain could stay in the country – but this was not part of the final deal.
Brexit bullying so successful in Commons,has already starting on the Lords.Will they speak out? pic.twitter.com/xTzPZ7lAue
— Graham Allen MP (@GrahamAllenMP) February 9, 2017
Today I voted to give EU citizens certainty about their futures in the UK. Shameful so many refused to protect their own EU constituents
— Lilian Greenwood (@LilianGreenwood) February 9, 2017
Broxtowe Conservative MP Anna Soubry voted in favour, obeying the Government’s three-line whip after rebelling on an earlier vote.
..taking back control? Your sovereign Parliament – your voice on your future – continues to be sidelined.
— Anna Soubry MP (@Anna_Soubry) February 8, 2017
Prime Minister Theresa May had promised to begin the two-year process of Britain leaving Europe by the end of March.
Jeremy Corbyn faces more problems in his party after senior frontbencher Clive Lewis unexpectedly resigned as shadow business secretary ahead of the vote.
Nottingham East’s Labour MP Chris Leslie tweeted his disapproval and called the result a ‘farce’, but abstained from voting.
Commons gagged from debating dozens of important #Brexit Bill amendments about Single Market, trade, workers’ rights etc. What a farce.
— Chris Leslie (@ChrisLeslieMP) February 8, 2017
On Tuesday (February 7) MPs Mr Leslie’s his bid to force the Government to consult Parliament on the deal struck with the EU before it is finalised.
