Peers set to oppose May’s Brexit Bill
BRITAIN: Prime Minister Theresa May is facing a double defeat over the Brexit Bill as peers from across parties back extra protections for EU citizens and a veto on the final deal.
Labour, Liberal Democrats, Tory rebels and crossbenchers have all rallied round two amendments that would force changes on the legislation to start Brexit talks.
One change would ensure every EU citizen in Britain keeps the right to work and stay there, even if Britons living on the Continent lose protections.
The second would force ministers to get the approval of MPs and peers on the final Brexit deal before they withdraw from the EU – an effective veto.
Opposition sources have boasted they ‘‘have the numbers’’ to defeat the Government because the Tories have no majority in the Lords.
Tory rebels have also publicly expressed support for the moves, with Baroness Altmann, the former pensions minister, saying she is considering backing both.
Any changes voted through by the Lords would then go to the House of Commons to be approved. Should MPs reject the changes, the legislation enters what is known as ‘‘ping-pong’’, with peers and MPs squaring off until an agreement is reached.
Ministers are now under pressure to avoid a damaging vote defeat and that fallout by coming up with a compromise on both topics.
Despite the pressure, Lord Bridges, the Brexit minister, demands peers wave through the legislation unamended.
‘‘This is not the place to rehearse the arguments of the referendum, seek to dictate the terms of our exit, or tie the prime minister’s hands as she prepares to enter negotiations that will be complicated and difficult,’’ he said.
The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill, which gives the Government the power to trigger Article 50 and start talks, was passed by MPs without any changes.
However, it is facing a more difficult passage through the Lords, where Labour and Lib Dem peers outnumber Tories, making defeats of the Government more likely.
Over the next fortnight a battle over what changes – if any – are made to the 137-word legislation will play out. It is believed the Government is facing defeat on two fronts after Opposition peers managed to convince crossbenchers and Tories.
One amendment promises that citizens from the EU and European Economic Area will enjoy the rights they currently enjoy after Brexit. It pledges they will not be ‘‘disadvantaged in relation to their right to reside and work in the United Kingdom or their potential to acquire such rights in the future’’.
That goes a step further than the Government, which has said it will only make the promise if Britons living in the EU are given the same assurances.
Altmann said she was ‘‘deeply distressed’’ by the failure to guarantee EU citizens rights.
‘‘I’ve had so many letters and emails and heart-rendering pleas from people who’ve been here for quite some time,’’ she said.
‘‘They’ve done nothing wrong. It’s almost unhuman [how they are being treated] . . . It does exercise me that we are being ever so harsh and cruel.’’
The second amendment gathering support will ensure MPs and peers vote on the final Brexit deal before leaving the EU.
‘‘If Government don’t concede on either of these issues, we will press them to a vote and we will easily win,’’ an opposition Lords source said.
Any amendments will need to be ratified by the Commons before becoming law. – Telegraph Group