Emma Watson is facing an online backlash after appearing "topless" in a photo shoot for Vanity Fair magazine.
The Harry Potter star posed in a white open top for photographer Tim Walker, partly exposing her chest, prompting some Twitter users to question Watson's feminist stance.
The 26-year-old has been a vocal advocate for women's rights and helped launch the UN Women campaign HeForShe, calling on men to advocate gender equality.
One Twitter user wrote: "Feminist: Page 3 girls? Topless? Ban them! Emma Watson topless? Brave and Stunning! #hypocrisy".
Daily Mail columnist Julia Hartley-Brewer wrote: "Feminism, feminism... gender wage gap... why oh why am I not taken seriously... feminism... oh, and here are my t***."
Others defended the actress, with one tweeter arguing "feminism is about giving women free choice" and another saying "being sexual does not distract from the amazing work that (Watson) does".
In her interview with Vanity Fair, Watson talks about privacy and refuses to reveal details of her private life in order to be "consistent".
"I can't talk about my boyfriend in an interview and then expect people not to take paparazzi pictures of me walking around outside my home. You can't have it both ways," she said.
She added: "I used to be scared of words like 'feminism,' 'patriarchy,' 'imperialist.' But I'm not anymore."
Watson's new film, The Beauty And The Beast, is a live-action remake of the Disney classic with a twist.
"Belle is absolutely a Disney princess," Watson said.
"But she's not a passive character - she's in charge of her own destiny."
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Snapchat's owner gets £19bn valuation ahead of stock market debut
Snap Inc, the owner of Snapchat, is set to make its debut on the New York Stock Exchange today with a better-than-expected market valuation of $24bn (£19bn).
The company has priced 200 million shares at $17 apiece, with investors demand helping the tech start-up to command considerably more than the $14 to $16 a share it was hoping for.
Snap's flotation has excited Wall Street. An estimated 158 million people use its messaging app every day - sending photos to friends which disappear a few seconds later.
Crucially, Snapchat is beloved by teenagers and 20-somethings who use the app's filters to add special effects to their selfies - with bunny ears, princess tiaras, face swapping and vomiting rainbows among the most popular.
The valuation means Snap is worth $13bn (£10.6bn) more than Twitter, but the fledgling social network is way behind Facebook, which has a value of $395bn (£321bn).
Although many early investors will be popping champagne corks after becoming overnight millionaires - with Snap's 26-year-old co-founder Evan Spiegel landing a 17% stake worth $4bn (£3.26bn) - the company has many hurdles to overcome.
Snap's growth has slowed considerably since the Facebook-owned app Instagram cloned a key feature of Snapchat called "Stories", which allows a user's favourite photos and videos to be played on a loop to their friends for 24 hours.
Whereas Snapchat added 36 million daily active users in the first half of 2016, this slowed to 15 million in the second half of the year.
Then there is the issue of Snap's financial performance. Even though it has enjoyed a seven-fold increase in revenue, net losses soared by 38% last year because of its bigger rivals.
The company's IPO is also unusual because new investors will have no voting power - with its co-founders continuing to maintain tight control over its future.
Snap has brushed off concerns about slowing growth by pointing to how long its users spend on the app, as well as the revenue opportunities that will arise through the trend of young people using video to interact with each other instead of text.
But many of the young people who currently use Snapchat say they are finding it harder to fit in with their everyday life - as keeping up with friends and celebrities is too time-consuming.
One student said: "It got to the point that if I wanted to keep up with everyone's story, I'd have to sit on my phone and watch it for 25 minutes."
The company has priced 200 million shares at $17 apiece, with investors demand helping the tech start-up to command considerably more than the $14 to $16 a share it was hoping for.
Snap's flotation has excited Wall Street. An estimated 158 million people use its messaging app every day - sending photos to friends which disappear a few seconds later.
Crucially, Snapchat is beloved by teenagers and 20-somethings who use the app's filters to add special effects to their selfies - with bunny ears, princess tiaras, face swapping and vomiting rainbows among the most popular.
The valuation means Snap is worth $13bn (£10.6bn) more than Twitter, but the fledgling social network is way behind Facebook, which has a value of $395bn (£321bn).
Although many early investors will be popping champagne corks after becoming overnight millionaires - with Snap's 26-year-old co-founder Evan Spiegel landing a 17% stake worth $4bn (£3.26bn) - the company has many hurdles to overcome.
Snap's growth has slowed considerably since the Facebook-owned app Instagram cloned a key feature of Snapchat called "Stories", which allows a user's favourite photos and videos to be played on a loop to their friends for 24 hours.
Whereas Snapchat added 36 million daily active users in the first half of 2016, this slowed to 15 million in the second half of the year.
Then there is the issue of Snap's financial performance. Even though it has enjoyed a seven-fold increase in revenue, net losses soared by 38% last year because of its bigger rivals.
The company's IPO is also unusual because new investors will have no voting power - with its co-founders continuing to maintain tight control over its future.
Snap has brushed off concerns about slowing growth by pointing to how long its users spend on the app, as well as the revenue opportunities that will arise through the trend of young people using video to interact with each other instead of text.
But many of the young people who currently use Snapchat say they are finding it harder to fit in with their everyday life - as keeping up with friends and celebrities is too time-consuming.
One student said: "It got to the point that if I wanted to keep up with everyone's story, I'd have to sit on my phone and watch it for 25 minutes."
Richard Whiteley's wife denies claims Countdown host worked for MI5
The wife of late broadcaster Richard Whiteley has denied "ridiculous" claims that her husband worked for MI5.
Kathryn Apanowicz said Whiteley's asthma and poor grasp of technology and maths meant there was no chance he could have coped with a secret career in espionage.
It comes after actor and union activist Ricky Tomlinson accused the former Countdown host of conspiring with the Government and orchestrating a plot to have him and a group known as the Shrewsbury 24 jailed.
Tomlinson said a documentary presented by Whiteley, entitled Red Under The Bed, was propaganda designed to influence a jury that went on to convict him for offences linked to the 1972 builders' strike.
The Royle Family star said he has classified documents which show the then prime minister, Sir Edward Heath, and Labour MP Woodrow Wyatt were involved in the conspiracy.
"We found out this week that the film was designed, written, made and paid for by the security services," Tomlinson told the Chester Chronicle.
"Woodrow Wyatt was a member of the security services and, unbelievably, so was Richard Whiteley, who hosted the show."
Apanowicz, who was married to Whiteley for 11 years, branded the claims "ridiculous" and said the family had been in "hysterics".
"Really and truly, Ricky Tomlinson should take a long, hard look at himself and stop casting such stupid aspersions because it's nonsense, he's made himself look a bloody fool," she said.
The actress said Whiteley, who died in 2005 after undergoing heart surgery, "was the most indiscreet person" she knew, and "could not keep a secret for toffee".
"Number one, he had an asthma inhaler so running around and escaping from whoever was chasing after him, he wouldn't be able to do that," she said.
"He couldn't work technology, it's nonsense. In those days, he didn't have an Aston Martin, he had a brown Ford Escort," she added.
"He couldn't do maths - he used to struggle with the Conundrum."
Kathryn Apanowicz said Whiteley's asthma and poor grasp of technology and maths meant there was no chance he could have coped with a secret career in espionage.
It comes after actor and union activist Ricky Tomlinson accused the former Countdown host of conspiring with the Government and orchestrating a plot to have him and a group known as the Shrewsbury 24 jailed.
Tomlinson said a documentary presented by Whiteley, entitled Red Under The Bed, was propaganda designed to influence a jury that went on to convict him for offences linked to the 1972 builders' strike.
The Royle Family star said he has classified documents which show the then prime minister, Sir Edward Heath, and Labour MP Woodrow Wyatt were involved in the conspiracy.
"We found out this week that the film was designed, written, made and paid for by the security services," Tomlinson told the Chester Chronicle.
"Woodrow Wyatt was a member of the security services and, unbelievably, so was Richard Whiteley, who hosted the show."
Apanowicz, who was married to Whiteley for 11 years, branded the claims "ridiculous" and said the family had been in "hysterics".
"Really and truly, Ricky Tomlinson should take a long, hard look at himself and stop casting such stupid aspersions because it's nonsense, he's made himself look a bloody fool," she said.
The actress said Whiteley, who died in 2005 after undergoing heart surgery, "was the most indiscreet person" she knew, and "could not keep a secret for toffee".
"Number one, he had an asthma inhaler so running around and escaping from whoever was chasing after him, he wouldn't be able to do that," she said.
"He couldn't work technology, it's nonsense. In those days, he didn't have an Aston Martin, he had a brown Ford Escort," she added.
"He couldn't do maths - he used to struggle with the Conundrum."
Barack and Michelle Obama Have Signed Highly Anticipated Book Deals
(NEW YORK) — Barack and Michelle Obama have book deals.
The former President and First Lady have signed with Penguin Random House, the publisher announced Tuesday. Financial terms were not disclosed for the books, which several publishers had competed for, although the deals are likely in the tens of millions of dollars.
Both Obamas have published through Crown, a Penguin Random House imprint. But Penguin Random House declined comment on which imprint or imprints the books would be released through.
"We are absolutely thrilled to continue our publishing partnership with President and Mrs. Obama," Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle said in a statement.
"With their words and their leadership, they changed the world, and every day, with the books we publish at Penguin Random House, we strive to do the same. Now, we are very much looking forward to working together with President and Mrs. Obama to make each of their books global publishing events of unprecedented scope and significance."
The Obamas were represented in negotiations by Robert Barnett and Deneen Howell of Williams & Connolly. Barnett has worked on deals with Barack Obama's two immediate predecessors, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, and with Michelle Obama's predecessors Hillary Rodham Clinton and Laura Bush.
The Obamas plan to donate a "significant portion" of their author proceeds to charity, including to the Obama Foundation. Barack Obama's book is a strong contender to attract the largest advance for any ex-president; the previous record is believed to be $15 million for Bill Clinton's "My Life."
The unique dual arrangement announced Tuesday is for books that are among the most anticipated in memory from a former president and first lady. Barack Obama is widely regarded as one of the finest prose stylists among modern presidents, and his million-selling "Dreams from My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope" are considered essential to his rise to the White House. Michelle Obama has given few details about her time as first lady: Her only book is about food and gardening, "American Grown," released in 2012. Both Obamas are widely popular with the public in the U.S. and abroad.
Titles and release dates were not immediately available. The books will reflect on the Obamas' White House years, although Penguin Random House declined to give further details. A publishing official with knowledge of the negotiations said that Barack Obama's book will be a straightforward memoir about his presidency, while Michelle Obama plans to write an inspirational work for young people that will draw upon her life story.
The official was not authorized to discuss the negotiations and asked not to be identified.
Presidential memoirs have contributed little to the literary canon, a tradition many believe Barack Obama will change. But recent books have found large audiences: Clinton's "My Life" and George W. Bush's "Decision Points" were million sellers. Books by first ladies, including Hillary Clinton's "Living History," have been dependable best-sellers.
The former President and First Lady have signed with Penguin Random House, the publisher announced Tuesday. Financial terms were not disclosed for the books, which several publishers had competed for, although the deals are likely in the tens of millions of dollars.
Both Obamas have published through Crown, a Penguin Random House imprint. But Penguin Random House declined comment on which imprint or imprints the books would be released through.
"We are absolutely thrilled to continue our publishing partnership with President and Mrs. Obama," Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle said in a statement.
"With their words and their leadership, they changed the world, and every day, with the books we publish at Penguin Random House, we strive to do the same. Now, we are very much looking forward to working together with President and Mrs. Obama to make each of their books global publishing events of unprecedented scope and significance."
The Obamas were represented in negotiations by Robert Barnett and Deneen Howell of Williams & Connolly. Barnett has worked on deals with Barack Obama's two immediate predecessors, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, and with Michelle Obama's predecessors Hillary Rodham Clinton and Laura Bush.
The Obamas plan to donate a "significant portion" of their author proceeds to charity, including to the Obama Foundation. Barack Obama's book is a strong contender to attract the largest advance for any ex-president; the previous record is believed to be $15 million for Bill Clinton's "My Life."
The unique dual arrangement announced Tuesday is for books that are among the most anticipated in memory from a former president and first lady. Barack Obama is widely regarded as one of the finest prose stylists among modern presidents, and his million-selling "Dreams from My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope" are considered essential to his rise to the White House. Michelle Obama has given few details about her time as first lady: Her only book is about food and gardening, "American Grown," released in 2012. Both Obamas are widely popular with the public in the U.S. and abroad.
Titles and release dates were not immediately available. The books will reflect on the Obamas' White House years, although Penguin Random House declined to give further details. A publishing official with knowledge of the negotiations said that Barack Obama's book will be a straightforward memoir about his presidency, while Michelle Obama plans to write an inspirational work for young people that will draw upon her life story.
The official was not authorized to discuss the negotiations and asked not to be identified.
Presidential memoirs have contributed little to the literary canon, a tradition many believe Barack Obama will change. But recent books have found large audiences: Clinton's "My Life" and George W. Bush's "Decision Points" were million sellers. Books by first ladies, including Hillary Clinton's "Living History," have been dependable best-sellers.
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Malaysia to cancel visa-free entry for North Koreans
Malaysia will cancel visa-free entry for North Koreans entering the country starting next week as diplomatic ties between the two countries fray further following the murder of Kim Jong-nam at the Kuala Lumpur airport.
North Koreans will be required to obtain a visa as of March 6 before entering Malaysia for national security reasons, state news agency Bernama reported on Thursday, citing the deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Malaysia is one of the few countries that North Koreans could visit without a visa. A reciprocal arrangement made Malaysians the only foreigners given visa-free entry to the secretive, nuclear-armed state.
The move comes two weeks after Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was killed at the Kuala Lumpur airport, allegedly with a toxic nerve agent.
Diplomatic ties between Malaysia and North Korea have soured since the murder, which South Korea and the US say was an assassination organised by North Korean agents.
North Korea has denied the accusations and called the allegation that the chemical weapon VX was used in killing "absurd".
North Korea tried to convince Malaysia not to perform an autopsy on Kim's body, and to release a North Korean suspect detained in connection with the murder.
A high level North Korean diplomatic delegation arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday and has held talks with members of the Malaysian cabinet to press those demands.
Malaysia has charged an Indonesian woman and a Vietnamese woman with murder. Police are also seeking to question seven others, including a senior official in the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia has insisted that laws of the country will be followed and has refused to release the body to the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, while waiting for next of kin to come forward.
The severe strain on the relationship follows decades of friendly ties between the two countries.
North Korea and Malaysia have maintained ties since the 1970s when former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad embraced the isolated state, in part to rebuff the United States.
North Koreans will be required to obtain a visa as of March 6 before entering Malaysia for national security reasons, state news agency Bernama reported on Thursday, citing the deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Malaysia is one of the few countries that North Koreans could visit without a visa. A reciprocal arrangement made Malaysians the only foreigners given visa-free entry to the secretive, nuclear-armed state.
The move comes two weeks after Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, was killed at the Kuala Lumpur airport, allegedly with a toxic nerve agent.
Diplomatic ties between Malaysia and North Korea have soured since the murder, which South Korea and the US say was an assassination organised by North Korean agents.
North Korea has denied the accusations and called the allegation that the chemical weapon VX was used in killing "absurd".
North Korea tried to convince Malaysia not to perform an autopsy on Kim's body, and to release a North Korean suspect detained in connection with the murder.
A high level North Korean diplomatic delegation arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday and has held talks with members of the Malaysian cabinet to press those demands.
Malaysia has charged an Indonesian woman and a Vietnamese woman with murder. Police are also seeking to question seven others, including a senior official in the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia has insisted that laws of the country will be followed and has refused to release the body to the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, while waiting for next of kin to come forward.
The severe strain on the relationship follows decades of friendly ties between the two countries.
North Korea and Malaysia have maintained ties since the 1970s when former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad embraced the isolated state, in part to rebuff the United States.
'Red flag' warning from watchdog over 'national crisis' in policing
The official police watchdog has said it is raising a "red flag" against the state of British policing after a damning new report found a series of failings.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) found that victims are being let down, criminal cases shelved and suspects left untracked as police fail to carry out basic functions.
It also issued an unprecedented warning that a shortage of detectives and investigators amounts to a "national crisis".
"Over the last few years, HMIC has said consistently that police forces were managing well in increasingly difficult circumstances," said Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary Zoe Billingham.
"Nonetheless, today, I'm raising a red flag to warn forces of the consequences of what is, to all intents and purposes, an unconscious form of rationing of police services.
"We are leading to a very serious conclusion regarding the potentially perilous state of British policing in this report."
:: How does the police force in your area rate?
But some observers have pointed out that year on year, policing budgets have been cut.
"Serving officers and retired officers have been saying for years that the cuts implemented would lead to precisely this result," said Sky News police analyst Graham Wettone.
"This is no great surprise at all. It's becoming quite a stressful situation because of the pressures involved now, there are more pressures on police officers than ever before."
The report uncovered evidence of emergency calls being downgraded in order to justify a slower response and failings in responding to vulnerable victims.
Fewer arrests were made, a large number of crimes were effectively "written off", suspects were not always pursued and inexperienced officers were left to carry out complex investigations, the review found.
HMIC said it was also warning for the first time of a national crisis in the shortage of detectives and investigators in many forces.
This is leading to excessive workloads and complex investigations are being led by those who lack appropriate experience.
In one instance inspectors saw a uniformed officer investigating rape.
Overall, one force - Durham Constabulary - was judged to be "outstanding", 28 forces were "good", 13 "require improvement" and one - Bedfordshire - was rated "inadequate".
But Bedfordshire Police's chief constable Jon Boutcher hit back at the criticism, saying: "While I welcome the inspector's comments regarding the challenges we face as a force in regards to our complex demands and lack of resources due to poor funding, it is incredibly disappointing to have been so unfairly judged."
Brandon Lewis, the Minister for Policing and the Fire Service, said: "This Government has protected police funding, through the 2015 Spending Review.
"There can be no excuse for any force that fails to deliver on its obligations - those identified as inadequate or requiring improvement must take HMIC's findings very seriously and I expect to see rapid improvements."
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) found that victims are being let down, criminal cases shelved and suspects left untracked as police fail to carry out basic functions.
It also issued an unprecedented warning that a shortage of detectives and investigators amounts to a "national crisis".
"Over the last few years, HMIC has said consistently that police forces were managing well in increasingly difficult circumstances," said Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary Zoe Billingham.
"Nonetheless, today, I'm raising a red flag to warn forces of the consequences of what is, to all intents and purposes, an unconscious form of rationing of police services.
"We are leading to a very serious conclusion regarding the potentially perilous state of British policing in this report."
:: How does the police force in your area rate?
But some observers have pointed out that year on year, policing budgets have been cut.
"Serving officers and retired officers have been saying for years that the cuts implemented would lead to precisely this result," said Sky News police analyst Graham Wettone.
"This is no great surprise at all. It's becoming quite a stressful situation because of the pressures involved now, there are more pressures on police officers than ever before."
The report uncovered evidence of emergency calls being downgraded in order to justify a slower response and failings in responding to vulnerable victims.
Fewer arrests were made, a large number of crimes were effectively "written off", suspects were not always pursued and inexperienced officers were left to carry out complex investigations, the review found.
HMIC said it was also warning for the first time of a national crisis in the shortage of detectives and investigators in many forces.
This is leading to excessive workloads and complex investigations are being led by those who lack appropriate experience.
In one instance inspectors saw a uniformed officer investigating rape.
Overall, one force - Durham Constabulary - was judged to be "outstanding", 28 forces were "good", 13 "require improvement" and one - Bedfordshire - was rated "inadequate".
But Bedfordshire Police's chief constable Jon Boutcher hit back at the criticism, saying: "While I welcome the inspector's comments regarding the challenges we face as a force in regards to our complex demands and lack of resources due to poor funding, it is incredibly disappointing to have been so unfairly judged."
Brandon Lewis, the Minister for Policing and the Fire Service, said: "This Government has protected police funding, through the 2015 Spending Review.
"There can be no excuse for any force that fails to deliver on its obligations - those identified as inadequate or requiring improvement must take HMIC's findings very seriously and I expect to see rapid improvements."
Government's Brexit bill defeated in Lords
The Government has been defeated over its Brexit bill in the Lords, with peers demanding protection for EU citizens in the UK.
A total of 358 voted for a Labour amendment to the bill to trigger Article 50, with 256 voting against.
It called for unilateral guarantees for approximately 3.5 million people from the bloc living in Britain.
In an attempt to head off the defeat, Amber Rudd had written a letter assuring peers that EU citizens would be treated with the utmost respect.
Labour, Lib Dem and some crossbench peers had said they felt a unilateral statement of support was necessary to remove the insecurity many felt ahead of Brexit.
Many who spoke in the debate preceding the vote said they had received many letters from people worried about the effects on their families.
Earlier, the Government's spokesman on Brexit in the Lords, Lord Bridges of Headley, had made an impassioned plea for the amendment to be defeated.
He said: "The status of EU nationals is one of the most emotive issues created by this debate. The lives of over four million people who have chosen to make this country their homes.
"I'd like to make two core points. First... between now and the date of exit, nothing will change for EU nationals living in the UK.
"Any EU citizen who is exercising EU treaty rights or has the right to remain, continues to have those rights to remain. There is no need to apply for a document to prove this.
"An EU national who has been here for five years, does not have to apply for a document to prove their right to be here permanently.
"The bill to repeal the European Communities Act (the Great Repeal Bill) will not be used to change our immigration system. This will be done through a separate immigration bill.
"After we have left the EU, the UK will continue to be bound by and observe the ECHR (European Court of Human Rights), which, in accordance with Article Eight, and appropriate case law, will protect EU nationals' rights to ... their private and family life.
"So... nothing will change for any EU citizen... without this parliament's approval."
He went on to remind the house that the issue of the long-term rights of EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens throughout the bloc will be dealt with early in the forthcoming Article 50 negotiations.
The bill will now have to return to the Commons where ministers will have to use their majority to overturn the amendment.
If they succeed it would then 'ping pong' back to the Lords, although it is unlikely peers would force a second vote.
However, the process could delay the bill.
Theresa May is understood to be planning to trigger Article 50 around 15 March and has long had a deadline of the end of March.
A total of 358 voted for a Labour amendment to the bill to trigger Article 50, with 256 voting against.
It called for unilateral guarantees for approximately 3.5 million people from the bloc living in Britain.
In an attempt to head off the defeat, Amber Rudd had written a letter assuring peers that EU citizens would be treated with the utmost respect.
Labour, Lib Dem and some crossbench peers had said they felt a unilateral statement of support was necessary to remove the insecurity many felt ahead of Brexit.
Many who spoke in the debate preceding the vote said they had received many letters from people worried about the effects on their families.
Earlier, the Government's spokesman on Brexit in the Lords, Lord Bridges of Headley, had made an impassioned plea for the amendment to be defeated.
He said: "The status of EU nationals is one of the most emotive issues created by this debate. The lives of over four million people who have chosen to make this country their homes.
"I'd like to make two core points. First... between now and the date of exit, nothing will change for EU nationals living in the UK.
"Any EU citizen who is exercising EU treaty rights or has the right to remain, continues to have those rights to remain. There is no need to apply for a document to prove this.
"An EU national who has been here for five years, does not have to apply for a document to prove their right to be here permanently.
"The bill to repeal the European Communities Act (the Great Repeal Bill) will not be used to change our immigration system. This will be done through a separate immigration bill.
"After we have left the EU, the UK will continue to be bound by and observe the ECHR (European Court of Human Rights), which, in accordance with Article Eight, and appropriate case law, will protect EU nationals' rights to ... their private and family life.
"So... nothing will change for any EU citizen... without this parliament's approval."
He went on to remind the house that the issue of the long-term rights of EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens throughout the bloc will be dealt with early in the forthcoming Article 50 negotiations.
The bill will now have to return to the Commons where ministers will have to use their majority to overturn the amendment.
If they succeed it would then 'ping pong' back to the Lords, although it is unlikely peers would force a second vote.
However, the process could delay the bill.
Theresa May is understood to be planning to trigger Article 50 around 15 March and has long had a deadline of the end of March.
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