Don’t hold up Brexit, No 10 tells the Lords

DOWNING Street last night dismissed the threat from a female Tory peer that the House of Lords could delay Brexit. Baroness Wheatcroft, a former editor of the Wall Street Journal Europe, yesterday suggested the Lords could withhold approval for Article 50, the mechanism which would trigger leaving the EU.

The pro-Remain Tory peer suggested there were dozens of peers who want to stop, delay or ‘revisit’ the result, despite 52 per cent of those voting in the June 24 referendum backing the Leave campaign.

But No 10 quickly tried to dampen down the threat, insisting the Lords should get behind the decision of British voters.

Lady Wheatcroft ignited the row by telling The Times: ‘The Lords might actually delay things.’ She said she did not want the Lords to immediately stand in the way of the UK leaving the bloc but added: ‘However, if it comes to a bill, I think the Lords might actually delay things. I think there’s a majority in the Lords for remaining.’

Asked whether she would support peers delaying Brexit legislation she said: ‘Yes I would. And I would hope while we delayed things that there would be sufficient movement in the EU to justify putting it to the electorate, either through a general election or a second referendum.’

She added that just small adjustments to the freedom of movement rules could trigger justification for a second referendum.

There are differing views over whether Parliament needs to pass an act first before Article 50 is triggered. Lady Wheatcroft said Tory whips would not be able to push through legislation to enable Article 50 because the opposition currently outnumbers the Government in the chamber.

She added that even Tory peers ‘feel sufficiently strongly that they’d defy the whip anyhow. I would.’ Theresa May has insisted she respects the vote and wants to secure the best Brexit deal.

Mrs May’s official spokesman said: ‘The Prime Minister is very clear that Brexit means Brexit.

‘Parliament supported the decision to hold the referendum. Everyone should focus on getting behind that and making a success of Brexit.’

Nigel Evans, the former deputy speaker, criticised the peer. He said on Twitter: ‘Memo to Lady Wheatcroft – we had a vote which is called democracy – the people voted Brexit, and PM has helpfully interpreted what it means!’

Lady Wheatcroft is not the first Lords member to warn the upper chamber could thwart Brexit. Lord Butler of Brockwell, the former top civil servant, said in June, before the vote, that ‘the referendum is merely advisory and the Parliament and the Government do maintain their sovereignty in law’.

Almost all the 3.6million EU citizens currently living in Britain will have qualified for residency by the time Brexit is complete according to The Social Market Foundation. Its report was based on the assumption Article 50 is triggered next year and takes two years.

‘Searching for the best deal’