May loses fight on EU migrants

THERESA MAY suffered a major setback in her Brexit plans yesterday after the House of Lords backed a move to guarantee the rights of EU nationals in the UK.

The Labour-led move was carried by 358 votes to 256, a majority of 102.

The Tories do not have a majority in the Lords and the issue will now go back to the Commons for further consideration.

The move could put at risk May’s timetable for triggering Article 50 to begin Brexit talks by the end of this month.

It requires the Government to publish proposals on how to protect EU citizens currently living in Britain – including residency rights – within three months of triggering exit negotiations.

But the Government said they were determined to stick to their timetable and would not give assurances to EU citizens before talks to guarantee the rights of Britons living in Europe.

A spokesman for the Department for Exiting the EU said they were “disappointed” by the Lords vote. But shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer welcomed the move.

He said: “Labour believe EU nationals should not be used as bargaining chips in negotiations. There is a growing consensus this must be resolved before Article 50 is triggered, and the Prime Minister is now increasingly isolated.”