MPs voted to give the UK Internal Market Bill a second reading in the House of Commons yesterday.
The bill, which looks at how England trades with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in a post-Brexit world, has proved controversial both in and outside of the House of Commons, as it gives the Government power to change aspects of the European Withdrawal agreement - a legally-binding deal which was signed with Brussels in January.
Although it was passed with a majority, not all Conservative MPs gave it their support.
Let's take a look at what the bill is and how many people backed it.
What is the Internal Market Bill?
Put simply, the bill sets out the laws governing how the UK trades internally (across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) when it formally leaves the EU's single market and customs union on January 1.
To do so, the 1707 Acts of Union will be updated and new principles will be created relating to domestic law.
How many MPs voted to push it through the Commons?
MPs voted to give the UK Internal Market Bill a second reading by 340 to 263 – a Government majority of 77.
Two Tory MPs – Sir Roger Gale and Andrew Percy – voted against the Bill, while 30 did not cast a vote, although some may have been “paired” with opposition MPs.
The Government tally was bolstered by the support of seven DUP MPs.
Why is the bill so controversial?
While the bill was designed to help the free flow of goods and services in a post-Brexit UK, it also allows the Government to change aspects of the EU Withdrawal Agreement.
This agreement is a legally-binding document outlining the UK's exit from the EU and was signed off at the start of the year.
Despite Boris Johnson’s controversial plan to use domestic law to supersede elements of the Withdrawal Agreement, the Bill passed its second reading.
However, some Tories have continued to rally against the plans, which will be analysed in greater detail on Tuesday, September 15, when MPs go through detailed line-by-line scrutiny of the Bill.
Government whips are bracing themselves for expected votes next week on amendments to the Northern Ireland provisions which some rebels may back.
A number of Conservative former ministers have made clear they would not support any measure that breached international law, including former chancellor Sajid Javid, Andrew Mitchell and two former attorney generals, Geoffrey Cox and Jeremy Wright.
Mr Mitchell, speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, said: “The proposition that we should march through the Lobby as lawmakers and say that we are going to ignore and disavow a law that we have passed, to do with the rule of law, that is completely unacceptable.”
The ex-international development secretary said the proposals were “causing very considerable anxiety and worry” on the Government backbenches.