Britain’s push to leave the European Union has cleared its first legislative hurdle.<br /><br /> Members of the UK parliament have voted in favour of allowing the introduction of a bill that would let the government begin Brexit negotiations.<br /><br /> MPs voted by 498 to 114 in favour of the bill proceeding to the next legislative stage.<br /><br /> The result paves the way for the government to launch divorce proceedings with the EU by the end of March.<br /><br /> Earlier the MPs rejected an attempt by pro-EU Scottish nationalists to throw out the bill.<br /><br /> A majority of voters in Scotland and Northern Ireland had voted to stay in the EU in last year’s referendum on the issue.<br />
