This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39123604

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Government facing Brexit defeat in Lords over EU nationals Government facing Brexit defeat in Lords over EU nationals
(about 1 hour later)
The government is facing a first defeat for its Brexit bill in the House of Lords later. Peers are debating calls for the UK to protect the rights of EU citizens to remain in the UK after Brexit amid signs the government could be defeated.
Peers are expected to agree to amend the draft legislation to protect the rights of EU citizens living in the UK. Ministers say EU residents' status will be a priority once Brexit talks begin but opposition peers want a unilateral guarantee about their right to stay.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd had sought to reassure members that EU nationals' status would be a priority once Brexit talks begin. Lib Dems in the House of Lords say they expect a "clear victory" in a vote on an amendment to the Brexit bill later.
But a cross-party amendment calling for a firm guarantee is expected to secure the backing of most peers. But Tory peer Lord Lawson said they were indulging in "virtue signalling".
Baroness Smith, Labour's leader in the House of Lords, said it was a "moral issue" while her Lib Dem counterpart Lord Newby said passing the amendment would "require the Commons to think again". Should the amendment be passed, it would be the government's first defeat on the bill - which will give Theresa May the authority to trigger Article 50 and begin official talks on the terms of the UK's exit from the EU.
If this happens, MPs could remove the Lords' proposed changes again when the bill moves back to the House of Commons later this month.If this happens, MPs could remove the Lords' proposed changes again when the bill moves back to the House of Commons later this month.
The bill authorises the government to trigger Article 50. Ahead of Wednesday's debate, Home Secretary Amber Rudd sought to reassure peers about the government's intentions, saying the 3.2 million EU nationals in the UK made a vital contribution and would be treated with the "utmost respect".
The rights of EU nationals to remain in the UK after Brexit has been one of the most contentious issues during its parliamentary passage so far. But she stopped short of offering a firm guarantee, saying this would not help the hundreds of thousands of UK citizens living on the continent as it could leave them in limbo if reciprocal assurances were not given by the 27 other member states.
In a letter sent to every peer, Ms Rudd said a guarantee of their right to stay, however "well-intentioned", would not help the hundreds of thousands of UK citizens living on the continent as it could leave them in potential limbo if reciprocal assurances were not given by the EU's 27 other member states. The amendment, which would guarantee the rights of all EU residents living in the UK at the time of the UK's departure from the EU, has cross-party backing.
Moving the amendment in the Lords, Labour peer Baroness Hayter said the 3.2m EU residents in the UK risked being used as "bargaining chips" in the negotiations and it was "in the gift" of the government to stop this happening.
While she was equally concerned about the two million Britons living on the continent, she insisted they should "not be traded against each other".
"These people need to know now, not in two years' time or even 12 months' time. They simply cannot put their lives on hold," she said.
"Some are planning schools for their children, some are moving jobs, renting or buying a home or acting as carers. Some are receiving healthcare. Many more are working in our health service. All should have their uncertainty removed."
When will real showdown happen?When will real showdown happen?
Parliamentary correspondent Mark d'ArcyParliamentary correspondent Mark d'Arcy
If there is ever to be a genuine parliamentary threat to the government's Brexit plans, when might it come?If there is ever to be a genuine parliamentary threat to the government's Brexit plans, when might it come?
The main pressure points are a bit further down the road…..The first will come in the autumn when negotiations start in earnest, after the French and German elections are done. The main pressure points are a bit further down the road… the first will come in the autumn when negotiations start in earnest, after the French and German elections are done.
At that point the EU will present its opening bid, which will probably be a demand for the UK to stump up a considerable exit fee. Will that provoke demands that the UK should throw up its hands and walk away from the EU then and there?At that point the EU will present its opening bid, which will probably be a demand for the UK to stump up a considerable exit fee. Will that provoke demands that the UK should throw up its hands and walk away from the EU then and there?
The battle lines on this are already beginning to form, with talk of legal advice on the enforceability or otherwise of any EU demands.The battle lines on this are already beginning to form, with talk of legal advice on the enforceability or otherwise of any EU demands.
Or fast forward to the autumn of 2018 - the point at which the UK's exit package will have to start going before the European Parliament, and maybe EU national and even regional parliaments.Or fast forward to the autumn of 2018 - the point at which the UK's exit package will have to start going before the European Parliament, and maybe EU national and even regional parliaments.
Read more from MarkRead more from Mark
She said there was "absolutely no question of treating EU citizens with anything other than the utmost respect". Earlier this month, MPs passed the bill unamended, accepting assurances from ministers that protecting the rights of the three million EU nationals living in the UK would be a priority for ministers.
"This isn't just about ensuring British businesses and our public sector have access to the right workers," she wrote. But the government does not have a majority in the Lords, where the 178 crossbench peers who are not affiliated to any party have considerable influence.
"We owe it to those many European citizens who have contributed so much to this country to resolve this issue as soon as possible and give them the security they need to continue to contribute to this country." Lord Newby, the leader of the 112 Lib Dems in the Lords, said passing the amendment would "require the Commons to think again".
The Lib Dems say they expected 230 of their own and Labour peers to vote for the amendment and for crossbenchers - independents peers who are not affiliated to any party - to back it by a margin of two to one.
Lib Dem sources also suggested they expected some Conservatives not to vote.
But former Conservative chancellor Lord Lawson said that while he wanted to offer certainty to EU residents, he believed the amendment was "very foolish".
"At the end of the day, it will only hold up the bill for a day or two which is neither here nor there," he told the BBC.
"Everyone knows they (EU residents) are going to stay. Amber Rudd has made this clear, the view in the House of Commons is clear. There is no question of EU residents settled here having to go."
He added: "Basically it is virtue signalling, which is also the rage nowadays... coupled with the fact the opposition feels it has a constitutional duty to make life difficult for the government."
Former Tory leader Lord Howard said he backed a unilateral guarantee but the "unpalatable truth" was that neither the government nor the Commons would change their mind over the matter and the Lords should reflect on this.
'Ping pong begins''Ping pong begins'
BBC political editor Laura KuenssbergBBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg
The letter is not that different to what was sent to MPs previously to try to ease their minds, as the Article 50 legislation made its way through the House of Commons.The letter is not that different to what was sent to MPs previously to try to ease their minds, as the Article 50 legislation made its way through the House of Commons.
It does though appear to kill off the idea that Theresa May will arbitrarily set a cut-off date for EU immigration without having to get MPs or peers onside first. But it is unlikely to spare the government's blushes. Without a further more dramatic concession, they are set to lose.It does though appear to kill off the idea that Theresa May will arbitrarily set a cut-off date for EU immigration without having to get MPs or peers onside first. But it is unlikely to spare the government's blushes. Without a further more dramatic concession, they are set to lose.
That will set in train the first 'ping' of the potential 'ping pong' - the parliamentary process where the Lords reject something in the red chamber, sending it back down the corridors to the green benches - daring, imploring perhaps, backbenchers to join with them and push back at the government.That will set in train the first 'ping' of the potential 'ping pong' - the parliamentary process where the Lords reject something in the red chamber, sending it back down the corridors to the green benches - daring, imploring perhaps, backbenchers to join with them and push back at the government.
There is no sign at the moment that ministers want to budge on this issue.There is no sign at the moment that ministers want to budge on this issue.
Read more from LauraRead more from Laura
Wednesday's debate will begin at about 15:30 GMT with the vote on EU nationals expected some time before 18:00 GMT.
Earlier this month, MPs passed the bill unamended, accepting assurances from ministers that protecting the rights of the three million EU nationals living in the UK would be a priority for ministers.
But the government does not have a majority in the Lords, where the 178 crossbench peers who are not affiliated to any party have considerable influence.
Labour have said they will not delay the invoking of Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which the prime minister wants to do by the end of March.
But Baroness Smith said guaranteeing the rights of the EU nationals was a "sensible step forward" which would help set a positive tone for the negotiations to come.
"It is quite clear that if we say we are doing this, other European countries will also do it. They are going to follow suit," she told Sky News.
"It is a moral issue but it is also a pragmatic issue," she added.
"Universities and businesses are losing staff that are EU citizens because it is much safer for them to go and work elsewhere."
How might EU immigration work post Brexit?How might EU immigration work post Brexit?
Do immigrants increase the average wealth of existing population?Do immigrants increase the average wealth of existing population?
The stages the Brexit bill needs to go through to become law:The stages the Brexit bill needs to go through to become law:
(it is currently at committee stage in the House of Lords)(it is currently at committee stage in the House of Lords)