House of Lords
Parliament

Labour's Lord Lea of Crondall describes the bill as “the shortest suicide note in history”.

Lib Dem Lord Taverne attacks the "a dangerous step" towards the doctrine that "the people’s will must always prevail".

That, he says, is the doctrine favoured by Hilter, Mussolini and Stalin.

Ukip's Lord Pearson argues that ultimate "sovereignty lies with the people".

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Parliament

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Now is the time for the Lords to give way to the House of Commons, says Crossbencher Lord Pannick.

Lord Pannick was the lawyer who fought the Supreme Court case seeking to give Parliament a vote on triggering Article 50. 

He argues that there is no reason to think that MPs will change their mind and accuses the Lib Dems of making "a completely pointless gesture".

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Parliament

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The Lib Dems' Baroness Ludford tells the House that her party has tabled an amendment insisting that Parliament should be able to approve any final exit deal.

She says she does not trust government assurances on this matter adding that the government has "a record of broken promises".

Suggestions that their amendment could weaken the negotiations are "mere blackmail", she says.

Landmark legislation set to be approved as Lords back down over issue of EU residents rights.

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Parliament

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Peers now turn to the second amendment which concerns Parliament being given a vote on any exit deal.

The government's position has not changed, begins Lord Bridges of Headley.

This amendment, he argues, is "unnecessary, would create untold uncertainty and would undermine our negotiating position".

Lord Ashdown intervenes: "I am genuinely puzzled," he says. 

He notes that former Prime Minister John Major sought approval for the Maastricht Treaty twice "without weakening his position".

How is it this government cannot seek Parliamentary approval once? he asks.

Lord Bridges replies that he is "genuinely puzzled" by Lord Ashdown's position recalling that he said he would "respect the referendum".

House of Commons
Parliament

Labour's Kate Green expresses surprise the chancellor did not mention Brexit in the Budget. 

"This is not a Budget in which the concerns of those in low-paid unstable employment are addressed," she warns. 

She claims it doesn't fulfil the government's promise to pursue policies which "work for everyone".  

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Parliament

Peers have voted to reject the Lib Dems' amendment by 274 votes to 135.

This means that the Lords will not insist on their original amendment to seek protection for EU citizens. 

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Parliament

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After that testy exchange, peers begin voting on Lib Dem amendment A1.

This amendment reintroduces the requirement for the government to produce proposals for EU citizens in the UK to retain their rights after Brexit.

The result is expected at 9:20pm.

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Lord Oates expresses disappointment in the Labour peers and suggests that their leader, Baroness Smith of Basildon, had already said she would "concede everything" if MPs didn't support the amendments first time.

Baroness Smith of Basildon leaps to her feet accusing the Lib Dem peer of being "absolutely wrong".

She says that she respected the will of the elected House and that she did not want to see "extended ping pong".

"If he believes that by voting for this amendment he can change their [MPs] minds go ahead but do not give false hope."

She then turns to Conservative peers: "And it's no good noble lords opposite cheering me, you got us into this mess."

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Parliament

Brexit Minister Lord Bridges of Headley now responds to the debate.

He seeks to reassure EU nationals that "nothing changes until we have left the EU, nothing can change without the approval of Parliament".

He urges peers to let the bill pass. 

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Parliament

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Labour’s Brexit spokeswoman Baroness Hayter tells the House that her party will not be supporting Lib Dems' attempt to insist on their amendment.

She says that the amendment was rejected by the elected house and adds that it is clear "the government is not for turning".

"To the people affected, we are not giving up on you," she says.

She then accuses the Lib Dems of not taking the House "seriously"  as a legislative body and "falsely raising people's hopes".

She concludes that the government's position is not "ethical, moral or clever" and warns that she will return to this issue. 

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The Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, tells peers that he voted against the amendment not because he lacked compassion but because he did not want to delay the process.

House of Commons
Parliament

Conservative Robert Courts praises the chancellor's announcement of money for T-levels, calling it "the greatest reform" in 16-plus education since A-levels. 

He hopes it will help achieve "parity between academic education and vocational education" which is required if businesses are to get the high-skilled technical workers they need. 

House of Lords
Parliament

Crossbencher Lord Hannay of Chiswick recalls negotiating on budget issues with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

He tells the peers that on occasions when he got her to agree with his approach she would say "OK, but you better be right".

"That's what I say to the government."

He warns that their choice of a transactional approach "could end in tears". 

House of Lords
Parliament

Conservative Lord Bowness tells peers that he cannot support continued insistence of the Lords amendments.

To do so is to delay the process, he says, and argues that such a delay wouldn't be in the interests of the EU or the UK.

Making a more general point he adds that he doesn't need lessons of loyalty from those "whose history on Europe make them experts in disloyalty".