Lords give backing to no-deal barrier

A LAW designed to prevent the UK crashing out of the EU next month has cleared another hurdle after the Government announced a late-night breakthrough in the Lords.

The legislation to delay Brexit in order to prevent a no-deal departure – a bill Prime Minister Boris Johnson said would “scupper negotiations” - passed all stages in the Commons yesterday.

The Lords sat until 1.30am this morning when chief whip Lord Ashton of Hyde said all stages of the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 6) Bill will be completed by 5pm tomorrow.

“We have also received a commitment from the chief whip in the House of Commons that Commons consideration of any Lords amendments will take place on Monday and it is the Government’s intention that the Bill be ready for Royal Assent,” he told peers.

The late night debate capped a day of high drama in Westminster where newly appointed Prime Minister Boris Johnson was defeated over a backbench Bill to delay Brexit and a plan for a snap general election.

Mr Johnson had called for a poll to be held on October 15 but Labour and other opposition MPs refused to back the bid – which needed a twothirds majority in the Commons – while the risk of a no-deal remained.

The Government failed to secure the support of two-thirds of MPs, with the Commons voting 298 to 55 – 136 short of the number needed.

In a hint he could seek a further vote to force an election, Mr Johnson issued a direct plea to Jeremy Corbyn’s MPs as he accused him of being “the first Leader of the Opposition in the democratic history of our country to refuse the invitation to an election”.

The Labour leader had said the Bill must be passed before he would entertain the thought of heading to the polls.

Protesters outside the Houses of Parliament as battles rage inside over Brexit