Brexit news latest: Lords debate to continue into early hours as 'filibustering' pro-Brexit peers try to thwart progress of crucial bill

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Pro-Brexit peers sought today to thwart the progress of new legislation which would force Theresa May to seek a delay to Brexit to prevent no-deal on April 12.

But the process of passing the European Union (Withdrawal) (No 5) Bill through the Lords got off to a rocky start, with some Conservative peers sparking fury by attempting to delay or even halt the process.

As a result, Thursday's debate is now expected to continue into until at least midnight.

Filibustering peers

Peers delivered long speeches designed to eat up debating time and prevent the Bill from completing the necessary stages in time, a process known as filibustering.

Although there is no fixed time-limit on the debate, those opposed to it were hoping that by dragging the discussion late into the night, the chamber would be forced to adjourn to Monday, endangering the already tight timetable to get it passed before next week's emergency EU summit.

However those in favour of the Bill said they were not planning to buckle, with plans set for overnight rotas and refreshments.

Labour peer Andrew Adonis said shortly before 7pm that the filibustering had ended, and "actual consideration" of Yvette Copper's Bill would continue until about midnight.

Anger in the House of Lords

She argued that “unconventional times” demanded “unconventional measures” as she called for the House to deal with the Bill in one sitting.

She 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.

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town accused unelected peers of trying to thwart the will of the Commons
PA

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?”

Why the rush?

The Bill is being rushed through a legislative process which usually takes months, to try and make sure it comes into effect before Mrs May attends the summit of EU leaders on April 10.

If successful, it would require her to get Parliament's approval for the detail of any delay and allow MPs to propose a different length of extension.

The Government has argued that it is an unnecessary measure which could have unintended consequences.

Mrs May has already committed to seek a short extension to Britain's EU membership and is working with the Labour Party to come up with a deal that MPs will accept.

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