House of Lords delays Brexit bill over demands for EU nationals living in Britain

Theresa May has said she will prioritise ending free movement of workers from the other 27 EU countries, even at the cost of trade ties with the bloc.

London, Mar 1: The House of Lords voted on Wednesday to amend and thereby delay a bill empowering Prime Minister Theresa May to begin Brexit negotiations, demanding guarantees for EU nationals living in Britain.

Peers voted by 358 to 256 for an amendment requiring ministers protect the rights of more than three million European Union and European Economic Area citizens after Britain leaves the bloc. The change means the bill must return to the lower House of Commons for further deliberation, delaying final approval just weeks ahead of May's deadline for starting Brexit negotiations by the end of this month.

Before the vote, May said her timetable for triggering Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon treaty, which starts a two-year negotiating period, would not change. "It is, indeed, my plan to trigger by the end of March," she told MPs. The bill "ensures that we are responding to the voice of the United Kingdom, when people voted to ensure that we do leave the European Union", she added.

MPs approved the bill by a large majority last month and are certain to reject the amendment, sending the original bill back to the Lords, who are likely to give in. But the parliamentary ping-pong will delay final assent of the bill, which May had hoped would come next week, and is another blow to her Brexit strategy.

On Monday, former Conservative prime minister John Major accused her of cheap rhetoric and an over-optimistic view of Britain's future outside the EU. The June referendum vote was fuelled by concerns about mass EU migration into Britain, and immigration promises to be a critical issue once Brexit negotiations begin. May has said she will prioritise ending free movement of workers from the other 27 EU countries, even at the cost of trade ties with the bloc.

But the fate of those who are already in Britain remains uncertain, causing intense worry for those affected. The prime minister has repeatedly said she wants them to stay, but says she must also secure the rights of 1.2 million British citizens living elsewhere in the EU.

PTI