House of Lords must do its ‘patriotic duty’ and let legislation allowing Theresa May to trigger Article 50 pass without delay, warns Brexit Secretary
THE HOUSE of Lords must do its “patriotic duty” and let the legislation allowing Theresa May to trigger Article 50 pass without delay, the Brexit Secretary is warning.
David Davis said the bill was overwhelmingly backed by MPs and travelled through the Commons unaltered, and urged peers not to amend it when it reaches them later this month.
He stressed that the Government saw off a series of attempts to change the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill before it passed a "historic" vote last night.
It will now need to be approved by the Lords before the Prime Minister can begin exit talks, which she has promised to do before the end of March.
A government source has stressed the upper chamber will face an "overwhelming public call to be abolished" if it attempts to frustrate the progress of the legislation.
And Mr Davis told unelected peers not to try to change the simple two-clause Bill, which he said "reflected the will of the people".
Asked if the Lords would face "dire recriminations" if it amended the Bill, he told Sky News: "I've seen these bloodcurdling things, they're silly.
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"I mean, the simple thing is the Lords is a very important institution.
"I expect it to do its job and to do its patriotic duty and actually give us the right to go on and negotiate that new relationship (with the EU)."
The Liberal Democrats have vowed to continue trying to amend the legislation after it comes to the Lords on February 20, to ensure a second referendum on the final exit deal achieved by Mrs May.
Pro-Europe Tory and Labour peers may also try and make changes to the Bill.
After 40 hours of debate over five days, Jeremy Corbyn's decision to order his MPs to back the legislation ensured a smooth passage in its final Commons stage, where it was passed by 494 votes to 122 - a majority of 372.
But the Labour leader's authority was called into question after senior frontbencher and ally Clive Lewis quit the shadow cabinet to defy a three-line whip and vote against the Bill.
And as MPs passed through the division lobbies for what many saw as a momentous vote, anti-Brexit Scottish National Party MPs whistled and sang the official EU anthem Ode To Joy, before being told off by Deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle.
Another MP was heard to shout "shame" while some Tory MPs applauded the result of the vote, which the Government had tried to avoid before the Supreme Court ruled that Parliament must have a say.
Ministers managed to avoid a significant Tory rebellion over the rights of EU citizens already in the UK, with just three backbenchers voting in favour of the amendment.
Other pro-Remain Conservatioves appear to have backed down after Home Secretary Amber Rudd sent them a letter offering them assurances over the issue.
The Government has said it will treat EU nationals' status as a priority in Brexit negotiations and seek to strike a reciprocal agreement to also protect the rights of British expats in Europe as soon as possible.