Peer warns up to 30 Tory MPs could join a Commons rebellion and force Theresa May to guarantee rights of EU citizens post-Brexit after Lords victory last night
Baroness Meacher said the amendment could be backed as the PM’s critics urge her not use those living here as ‘bargaining chips’ in negotiations
AS MANY as 30 Tory MPs could join a House of Commons rebellion and force Theresa May to guarantee rights of EU citizens post-Brexit, according to a peer.
Crossbencher Baroness Meacher made the claim after the House of Lords inflicted the Prime Minister’s fist defeat on the Article 50 bill last night.
She said when the legislation is sent back to the lower chamber next week pro-EU MPs will club together and ratify the amendment.
It would mean Mrs May would be forced to make a commitment not to kick out the three million EU nationals currently in the UK once we quit the trading bloc, regardless of any deal we get.
The Government has a majority in the Commons but it is only slim, meaning if all the opposition parties joined together – it would only take a handful of Tories to defy their leader to defeat it.
Baroness Meacher told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We understand there are 30 Tories who are saying they will vote to support this amendment.
"Obviously the Tory whips in the Commons are going to work extremely hard with all sorts of bribes to get these people to vote with the Government.
"I believe it can be won in the Commons on the basis of morality and principle and Tories are principled people in general."
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When the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill was debated in the Commons a similar amendment was tabled by Labour.
But the vote failed as only three Conservative MPs backed it – Ken Clarke, Tania Mathias and Andrew Tyrie.
It was though many of their colleagues were also sympathetic to the idea, but chose not to rebel at the time.
However the scale of the victory last night - 358 votes to 256 - has prompted speculation they might be willing to defy her when it comes round a second time.
Labour have indicated they would back the amendment to the bill, and Jeremy Corbyn described last night’s vote in the Lords as “great news”.
He said: "The Government must now do the decent thing and guarantee the rights of EU citizens living in the UK."
His shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer added: “There is a growing consensus that this must be resolved before Article 50 is triggered, and the Prime Minister is now increasingly isolated.”
And London Mayor Sadiq Khan says the PM is making a "colossal mistake" by not guaranteeing the rights of EU citizens living in the UK.
Mrs May has previously said she hoped to sort out a deal securing the rights of those who have settled on our shores from the continent as soon as possible.
But she has stopped short of pledging that they will be able to stay until the rights of UK citizens living in the EU is agreed to as well.
And while she has been praised by some for not showing her hand, it has led to opposition parties accusing her of using EU nationals as “bargaining chips” in the forthcoming Brexit negotiations.
But former Leader of the Lords Lord Strathclyde had warned his fellow peers voting for the amendment yesterday would “put at risk the future of a million British citizens living in the EU” by weakening Mrs May’s negotiating hand.
The House of Lords will today complete the second day of the 'committee stage' of the legislation, before giving it its 'third reading' next Tuesday and sending it back to the Commons.