House of Lords to begin second reading of Brexit bill

House of Lords - credit: PA

The House of Lords will begin the second reading of the Brexit bill this afternoon, with the Government’s plan facing a series of amendments from opposition parties.

MPs backed the bill in the Commons, but without a majority in the Lords the Conservatives could face defeat on issues such as the rights of EU citizens and whether a final deal should be put to Parliament.

There are currently 191 peers down to speak in the debate, which will last two days.

An alliance of opposition parties, as well as some Tory peers, are expected to come together to force changes to the bill.

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The committee stage, when there could be votes on some of the amendments, will take place next week.

If amendments are passed in the Lords they will have to go back to the House of Commons, but it looks highly unlikely MPs would accept any changes to the bill, which passed its Commons stages unamended earlier this month.

The Lords have faced warnings from pro-Brexit MPs that any attempt to frustrate the process could fuel calls for the second chamber to be abolished, while Brexit Secretary David Davis has previously called on peers to "do their patriotic duty" and vote the plans through.

But former Labour minister, Lord Peter Hain will tell the chamber: “Critics say ‘what right have I, an unelected peer, to oppose this bill or even to seek radically to amend it?”

“But I was appointed by my party. And in the referendum, two-thirds of Labour electors voted to remain. That’s what I am reflecting, that’s my mandate.”

Peter Mandelson argued the government could be defeated in the Lords, telling peers “not to throw in the towel” on Brexit.