Newington's Joe Carton looks ahead to the next fortnight in Westminster, and the issues we can expect to dominate the political agenda.
And just like that, the parliamentary break is over for the Commons class of 2017.
Returning from a summer of warm prosecco parties, Members of Parliament will fill the House of Commons this week - ready to tackle the long, grueling process of legislating for Brexit.
Brexit day in the Commons will be on Thursday (7 September), with Brexit Secretary David Davis standing at Exiting the European Union Questions. He will then open the two day second reading debate on the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill - the measure previously known as the Great Repeal Bill - that will see all European Union Law enshrined into the UK, ready for repeal or amendment. The debate is expected to centre around rights and protections for EU citizens, as well as Britain’s place in the single market, customs union and European Court of Justice during a transition period.
The vote - to take place next Monday (11 September) - will be one of the first major tests of the Conservative Party’s slim parliamentary majority, with reports suggesting that Labour is preparing to vote down the bill over concerns that the legislation hands too much power to the Government. These executive powers – known as 'Henry VIII powers' - will allow ministers to change primary legislation using secondary legislation, which requires less parliamentary scrutiny. In a bid to pacify opposition, David Davis has stated that “everything that’s significant” will be debated in full by MPs. The question remains though – who decides what is classified as “significant”?
Looking ahead elsewhere, expect to see the reshuffle rumour mill spinning all the way up to Conservative Party’s conference at the end of the month. Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, is a favourite to go – and could possibly replace Sir Patrick McLoughlin as party chairman. New recruits could include Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Old Etonian who was mooted as a leadership contender throughout the summer.
