Picture copyright AFP/ GEtty Photos
Picture copyright
AFP/ GEtty Photos
Lord Dubs – who proposed the modification – got here to the UK on the Kindertransport to flee the Nazis
The federal government has misplaced one other vote within the Home of Lords over its Brexit laws – this time on the problem of kid refugees.
Friends supported Lord Dubs’ modification to guard the rights of refugee kids to hitch their households within the UK after Brexit.
The federal government insisted it was “intent” on defending household reunification.
It is going to attempt to reverse the change – and others voted for on Monday – when the invoice returns to the Commons.
With an 80-strong majority of MPs, the federal government is more likely to get its manner.
The Brexit invoice – formally known as the EU (Withdrawal Settlement) Invoice – ensures the UK leaves the EU on 31 January with a deal.
It was accepted by MPs with out modification however has confronted a more durable battle within the Home of Lords.
On Monday, peers defeated the government on EU residents, EU Courtroom of Justice rulings and courtroom independence.
And ministers have now suffered a fourth defeat with the Home of Lords voting 300 votes to 220 to assist a change on youngster refugees.
What’s the modification about?
A earlier model of the Brexit invoice required the federal government to hunt settlement with the EU to make sure that unaccompanied kids may come to the UK to hitch a relative.
Nevertheless, following Boris Johnson’s election victory, this assure was weakened, as a substitute solely requiring the federal government to make statements to Parliament on the topic after Brexit.
Lord Dubs – who got here to the UK as a baby to flee the Nazis – put down the modification searching for to reinsert the unique dedication.
Talking throughout the debate, he urged the federal government to not “shut the door” on refugee kids.
He additionally stated providing a protected, authorized route into the UK for youngster refugees would “thwart the traffickers”.
In arguing for the modification, he stated he believed its supporters had been “primarily on the facet of public opinion and on the facet of humanity”.
Nevertheless, the federal government insisted it was “intent” on reaching a take care of the EU on household reunification, however didn’t need an obligation to barter on the matter included within the Brexit invoice.
Minister Baroness Williams of Trafford stated the federal government was dedicated to supporting susceptible kids, including: “Nobody group has the monopoly on humanitarianism.”
What occurs now?
A spokesman for Downing Road stated the federal government was not intending to just accept any amendments to the Brexit invoice.
The invoice is anticipated to go the Home of Lords and can return – with amendments – to the Home of Commons.
In all chance, MPs will reject the modifications and ship the invoice again to the Lords – this parliamentary course of is called ping pong.
The federal government has promised to guard the rights of refugee kids in a separate, as but unseen, immigration invoice.