British lawmakers will vote on legislation to launch the country's Brexit negotiations within two weeks, it was announced today as the bill was introduced in Parliament.

Lawmakers are due to debate the bill next week and vote in the House of Commons on whether to trigger the Article 50 clause and start Britain's EU divorce process on Feb 8.

The bill must also be approved by the House of Lords, which the government expects to happen in time to meet the deadline set by Prime Minister Theresa May and kick off the Brexit process by March 31.

But dozens of amendments are expected to be tabled to the two-clause bill - with the Scottish National Party announcing they would be putting forward 50 amendments to the Article 50 bill.

Lawmaker Chuka Umunna, chairperson of Vote Leave Watch, accused the government of trying to "muzzle" the lawmakers in the House of Commons by only allocating three days for debate on the legislation.

Commons Leader David Lidington insisted three days was ample time to discuss the bill.

As the ruling Conservatives have a majority in the House of Commons, it is expected that the legislation will pass easily.

The House of Lords is more diverse and more unpredictable with no Conservative majority, but as unelected parliamentarians, they risk being accused of thwarting the will of the people if any attempt is made to block the legislation.

- dpa