Posted on 04/18/2018 10:29:41 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
Theresa May has suffered an embarrassing defeat in the House of Lords over the issue of Britain’s membership of the customs union, increasing pressure on the government to reopen the issue.
An amendment to the EU withdrawal bill tabled by crossbencher Lord Kerr, and backed by several senior Conservatives, as well as Labour and the Lib Dems, was passed by a 348 votes to 225 – a majority of 123.
The government suffered a significant rebellion, with 24 Conservatives, including former ministers Lord Patten, Lord Heseltine and Lord Willetts, backing the amendment.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
Article 50 has been invoked.
No backsies.
It was my understanding of British politics that the House of Lords doesn’t actually have any real power anymore and anything they pass is equivalent to “Sense of Congress” Resolution in the United States (which is to put their views on record, but with no actual binding legal status).
Richard Tice, co-chair of pro-Brexit group Leave Means Leave, said: “It is disappointing, but unsurprising, that unelected members of the House of Lords have continued in their quest to delay, dilute and disrupt Brexit, with damaging measures that affect the poorest in the UK most of all.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6086036/remainer-lords-vote-to-keep-britain-in-eu-customs-union-in-brexit-blow-for-theresa-may/
unelected
What an anachronism in the 21st Century. All May has to do is threaten to appoint another 200 members to the House of Lords and they will cave.
Britain’s currently in a tough spot. If they accomplish Brexit, they will thrive. If they scuttle it, they will survive. If they continue down the middle of the road, they will be crushed. The current mode is to separate themselves from the club while still following club rules... that never works for long.
The Ruling Class is a global curse.
Normally, a bill in parliament is passed by the Commons and then sent to the Lords. Once passed by the Lords there is a Third Reading in the Commons and then the bill is sent to the Palace for Royal Ascent.
However, the Parialment Act (c. 1911) allows the Commons to send a bill to Palace for Royal Ascent even if it did not pass in the Lords. This is rarely invoked, but is from time to time especially if the Majority in the Commons (i.e. the Government) is determined to get a bill through.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.