Conservative peers sparked fury today by seeking to “thwart” the will of the Commons to delay Brexit and stop Britain crashing out of the EU without a deal.
Labour threatened to keep the Upper Chamber sitting all night to stop Brexiteers filibustering on a Bill rushed through the Commons yesterday.
Tories in the Lords tabled seven amendments to the legislation, which aims to force the Government to avoid a no-deal exit from the EU.
In dramatic scenes, peers clashed over the European Union (Withdrawal) (No 5) Bill, which the Commons passed by 313 votes to 312.
For Labour, Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town accused “a small group of unelected peers” of trying to “thwart” the will of the Commons.
She argued that “unconventional times” demanded “unconventional measures” as she called for the House to suspend its standing orders to deal with Labour MP Yvette Cooper’s Bill in one sitting.
Baroness Hayter warned of the dire consequences for the economy of a “disorderly exit which nobody wants” from the European Union and urged peers to pass it today so that it could receive Royal Assent before a crisis EU summit on Brexit next week.
“We will be here all night... if that’s what it takes to do what the elected Commons has asked us to do,” she said.
But Tory former Cabinet minister Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, opposing Labour’s move, said, to jeers: “This has got nothing to do with Brexit. This has to do with the procedures of the House.”
He said he was surprised and disappointed to see Labour joining with “insurgents” in the Commons, who had sought to “undermine the process and procedures” of the Commons.
However, former Home Secretary Lord Blunkett said: “Wasn’t part of the campaign during the referendum about the sovereignty of Parliament, not the sovereignty of government? Isn’t the delay in passing a Bill already through the Commons actually bringing this House into disrepute?”
Former foreign secretary Lord Owen said the Bill raised “very serious constitutional implications” and called on the Commons to change its rules to prevent such legislation being used again. But he also warned peers that if they defied the Commons and blocked the Bill it would have constitutional implications.
Conservative former Chancellor Lord Lamont said: “While it is true that there have been expedited proceedings in times of emergency or for security measures or for measures relating to Northern Ireland, those expedited proceedings have normally taken place when both sides of the House agreed it was necessary.”
Disgraced MP Fiona Onasanya cast the crucial vote to get the Bill through the Commons yesterday.
Her vote ensured it was passed by one vote.
The 35-year-old former Labour MP was sentenced to three months’ jail in January for perverting the course of justice after lying to police about a speeding offence. She was released from HMP Bronzefield in Surrey after 28 days and wears an electronic tag.
If Yvette Cooper’s Bill is passed by the Lords, it would create the danger of an “accidental no-deal Brexit” on April 12, Downing Street argued.
Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay has warned MPs that the Bill “calls into question the royal prerogative” which allows the PM to enter into international agreements without preconditions set by Parliament.
