WORCESTERSHIRE MPs have reacted to the Brexit bill clearing its first hurdle as the UK seeks to make its own laws.

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

The bill, which will end the supremacy of EU law in the UK, now moves onto its next parliamentary stage but scores of amendments were tabled within hours of it passing its first parliamentary hurdle.

A total of 157 amendments to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, covering 59 pages, were published, including many from senior Conservative europhiles.

Robin Walker, MP for Worcester, said he was pleased to see the bill progress to this key milestone and argued it was an important way of keeping the rules and laws from Britain’s time in the European Union in the statute book.

He added: “There was no rebellion from Government at all and seven Labour MPs voted with the Government.”

He described it as ‘bizarre’ that some Labour MPs voted against the bill when changes could be made later, at the committee stage.

Nigel Huddleston, MP for Mid Worcestershire, said there had been ‘no great surprises’ in the debate which had continued until the early hour of the morning.

He had ‘no qualms’ about voting for the bill but admitted there were concerns about the so-called Henry VIII powers.

However, he said ministers had given assurances that the nitty gritty would be ironed out at the committee stage.

Harriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, said: “The second reading of the EU Withdrawal Bill was passed with a majority of 36 with no Conservative MP opposing the measure and some Labour MPs voting with us or abstaining.

“The bill delivers a legal guarantee that the UK can set its own laws and deliver what the British people voted for. The Government’s plan is to simply transfer EU law into UK law and after that Parliament can amend laws as it sees fit.

“It is nonsense to say that Parliament does not scrutinise secondary legislation so I am as confused as anyone as to why the Labour party chose to oppose this necessary legislation.”

The Bill cleared its second reading in the House of Commons by a margin of 36 in the early hours of Tuesday, after a mooted rebellion by Remain-backing Tories failed to materialise and seven Labour MPs rebelled against Jeremy Corbyn to vote with the Government.

But the raft of changes proposed by Tories including former ministers Kenneth Clarke, Dominic Grieve, Nicky Morgan and Anna Soubry, serves notice on the Prime Minister that she faces a rough ride in the remaining stages of the Bill’s passage through Parliament.

The Bill will repeal the 1972 act taking Britain into the European Economic Community and transpose relevant EU law on to the UK statute book to ensure there are no gaps in legislation at the point of Brexit.