Government defeated in Lords over modern slavery legislation

THE GOVERNMENT has crashed to a further heavy defeat in the House of Lords over its flagship immigration legislation.

Peers backed by 312 votes to 211, majority 101, a Tory- led crossparty move that would see EU victims of modern slavery granted leave to remain in the UK.

It is the seventh setback the Government has suffered in the upper chamber to its Immigration and Social Security Co- ordination ( EU Withdrawal) Bill, which will end EU freedom- ofmovement rules in the UK.

Peers have demanded a series of changes to the legislation, including continued help for unaccompanied child refugees and imposing a 28- day limit on immigration detention.

It raises the prospect of a legislative tussle with the elected Commons known as parliamentary ping pong, where a Bill is passed between the two Houses.

The amendment aimed at ensuring continued post- Brexit protection for EU victims of modern slavery was proposed by Conservative peer Lord McColl of Dulwich.

He said: “It is clear that in future, victims of modern slavery who come from EU countries will be significantly worse off than they are currently. As a firm supporter of Brexit and an advocate for victims of modern slavery, I know that while free movement must end, the restoration of our sovereignty does not require us to create a situation in which the effective rights of some confirmed victims of modern slavery are diminished.

“Parliamentary sovereignty gives us the opportunity to improve provisions for all victims of modern slavery if we want to. It does not necessitate that we should acquiesce with the effective erosion of the rights of any confirmed victims. That we should inaugurate the Brexit era by doing so... is unthinkable.”