Battle for Brexit moves into the House of Lords
the upper house with Brexitbacking peers. “We want this to be a civilised debate,” the Tory insider said. “House of Lords reform has never been a Tory priority and it is not a debate we want to get into. We hope their Lordships will accept that the elected house has had its say and that should be respected.”
But there is little room for potential delays caused by the Bill bouncing back and forth between the Commons and the Lords if peers persistently keep scribbling down amendments that MPs have rubbed out. At present, the final Third Reading stage for the Bill in the Lords is due to take place on March 7. The legislation would then be expected to get the Royal Assent soon after.
ONLY a few days of delay could dash ministerial hopes of triggering the EU’s Article 50 exit clause around the middle of next month. Any hold up would look shambolic and give rise to the impression that the Prime Minister has lost control of the Brexit process, and that is exactly what hard-line Remainers want.
Government whips in the Lords are ready to press for all-night sittings to force the measure through and such gruelling sessions are never welcomed by peers. But threats alone may not be enough to force the most determined rebels to back down.
Brexit-supporters at Westminster sense victory is close but are not discounting a nerve-racking end to the parliamentary battle. Peers who want the next fortnight to be more than a therapy session still have an opportunity to spring a surprise.