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LORDS BATTLE BILL

The House of Lords gears up for marathon 2-day debate on EU Withdrawal Bill as opposition peers eye victory on at least 12 amendments

A record 195 peers are demanding a chance to speak during the debate

OPPOSITION Peers eye victory on at least a DOZEN amendments to Theresa May’s controversial EU Withdrawal Bill that arrives in the House of Lords today.

Parliament’s second chamber are gearing up for marathon two days of debate, with a record 195 peers demanding a chance to speak - a quarter of all members.

 The amended Bill will be sent back to the Commons after Easter
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The amended Bill will be sent back to the Commons after EasterCredit: Reuters

After a testy ride through the Commons, the mammoth Bill that aims to bring all EU law onto British books ahead of Brexit day faces an equally rocky spell in the Lords.

Furious Peers are determined to further water down hated Henry VII powers that will allow Ministers to change EU laws with the flick of a pen and give Parliament a vote to avoid the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal.

The amended Bill will then be sent back to the Commons after Easter.

The first flash point for the Government will come on Wednesday evening as pro-EU Labour peer Lord Adonis seeks to force a non-binding vote demanding a second referendum.

Last night the Liberal Democrats signalled they would back the vote, but Labour sources said the would most likely urge their Peers to abstain.

However many Labour members could ignore the official order and vote with the outspoken Europhile, along with as many as 20 rebel Tories.

Former Labour cabinet minister Baroness Tessa Jowell gives emotional speech in House of Lords about her brain tumour and NHS
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