Rebel Tory peers have vowed to inflict new defeats on Theresa May’s flagship Brexit laws if ‘bullying’ whips do not back down.
Ros Altmann and Patience Wheatcroft today warned they were appalled by attacks on rebels in the Commons but would not back down in their own opposition.
Mrs May was humiliated by a shock defeat in the Commons lobbies on Wednesday night after 11 Conservative MPs joined forces with Labour and the SNP to re-write a crucial section of draft Brexit laws to guarantee a ‘meaningful vote’ on the final deal.
The group were harshly criticised by Brexiteers in the Commons and have been subjected to abuse and even death threats over the revolt.
Ros Altmann (left) and Patience Wheatcroft (right) today warned they were appalled by attacks on Brexit rebels in the Commons but would not back down in their opposition to draft laws
Theresa May (pictured in Maidenhead today with husband Philip) faces the prospect of further defeat in the House of Lords on her flagship Brexit laws
The crucial EU (Withdrawal) Bill must survive another major test in the Commons on Wednesday night and it will be sent to the Lords at the end of January.
The Tories have no majority among peers and further defeats for the legislation may be inevitable.
Lady Altmann and Lady Wheatcroft wrote together in the Observer today that Tory critics in the Lords would not back down.
They said: ‘There are many moderate Conservatives in both Houses of Parliament who are deeply concerned that some in our party are so desperate to leave the EU, with or without a deal, that they believe any cost is justified to bring Brexit.
‘They maintain ”freedom is priceless” but this extreme view does not reflect public opinion.’
The senior Tory peers said the House of Lords would have its own mind over the legislation. Peers routinely inflict defeats on Government legislation, leading to wrestles with the Commons over the final draft.
The Tories have no majority among peers (file image during an earlier Brexit debate) and further defeats for the legislation may be inevitable
Lady Altmann and Lady Wheatcroft added: ‘Mindful of the monumental importance for future generations of getting Brexit right, the Lords is unlikely to be receptive to bullying over a restricted timetable or vigorous whipping to toe the party line.
‘The people voted to ‘take back control’ but that has to mean control by parliament, not a small group with extreme views or an executive that will brook no challenge.
‘It is parliament that must have the final say on whether the deal that is negotiated for breaking away from the EU … is in the UK’s best interests.’
In a signal of cross-party determination to change the legislation, Labour peer Andrew Adonis said last night it would have a ‘nightmare’ time in the Lords.
He said: ‘We respect the fact that it passed the Commons, so won’t reject the principle of withdrawal.
‘Our job is to make withdrawal compatible with the government’s own promises which – even with the latest changes – still aren’t satisfied in respect of a ‘meaningful vote’ on the final terms, ‘no hard border’ in Ireland and the rights of EU citizens in the UK.
‘We are facing the biggest conflict in the Lords since Irish Home Rule before the first world war, and the stakes are equally high.’
A group of 11 Tory rebels led by former attorney general Dominic Grieve (pictured this week during Brexit debate) have been subject to abuse since the revolt
A new amendment allowing ministers to amend Exit Day if necessary appears to have been accepted as a compromise that allows Mrs May to avoid a second Commons defeat this week
On Friday Mrs May appeared to have found a way to swerve a second defeat after a compromise with rebels.
Several Conservative MPs were threatening to vote against plans to put the Brexit date and time – 11pm on March 29, 2019 – into law on Wednesday night
But backbenchers tabled an amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill, which will allow ministers to delay the date if needed.
Downing Street is considering the amendment, and sources told the BBC it was highly likely to be accepted. Possible rebels including Dominic Grieve, who led this week’s revolt, indicated they would accept the changes.
The new amendment was tabled by four Tory MPs including Bernard Jenkin and former minister Oliver Letwin.
Senior Tory backbenchers from both the Leave and Remain factions appeared to be ready to back the compromise. Mr Grieve told the BBC that the amendment would leave him ‘fairly satisfied’.
He added: ‘The Government has, I think, this afternoon tabled a further amendment for next Wednesday, which very sensibly looks like it will resolve the issue that was troubling some of us. If that is the case, and I am fairly confident it is, then that issue will be satisfactorily resolved.’
Mr Jenkin, a leading Tory Brexiteer, said: ‘The purpose of this amendment is to avoid needless division over matters of detail when we should be supporting the PM.