Downing Street warns peers against blocking Brexit bill

Downing Street has issued a warning to the House of Lords not to try to derail controversial legislation overriding key elements of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.

The UK Internal Markets Bill - which gives ministers the power to overwrite provisions in the agreement relating to Northern Ireland-cleared its first Commons hurdle on Monday.

But some peers have warned it will not get through the upper chamber in its current form after the Government admitted that it would breach international law.

However, a Number 10 spokesman said ministers believed the Salisbury Convent ion-which states the upper chamber should not vote down legislation to implement government manifesto commitments - should apply to the Bill.

“We would expect the Lords to abide by the Salisbury Convention,” the spokesman said.

“Guaranteeing the full eco - nomic benefit of leaving the EU to all par ts of the United Kingdom and ensuring Northern Ireland’s businesses and pro ducers enjoy unfettered access to the rest of the UK were clear Conservative manifesto commitments which this legislation delivers.”

The Bill passed its second reading in the Commons on Monday evening by 340 votes to 263- a Government majority of 77. However ,30 Conser vative MPS failed to register a vote - despite a Government three-line whip - while Sir Roger Gale and Andrew Percy voted against the Bill. While some were thought to have permission to be away from Westminster - including former prime minister Theresa May reportedly attending a conference in South Korea - others are believed to have deliberately abstained. The list of those who did not vote included former chancellor Sajid Javid and two former attorney generals, Geoffrey Cox and Jeremy Wright as well as former Northern Ireland secretaries Julian Smith and Karen Bradley.