Theresa May fears battle with Lords as Brexit-bashing peers hatch revolt plot to derail her EU exit timetable
Rebel alliance is plotting to derail timetable for quitting EU
BREXIT-bashing peers are plotting to de-rail Theresa May’s timetable for quitting the EU.
A rebel alliance of Remainers have teamed up in a bid to block the PM’s departure plan when it goes to the Lords next week.
They are threatening to vote it out unless she bows to the demands to move back her March 31 deadline for pushing the exit button.
All 104 Lib Dem peers are hellbent on delaying the process – and it will only take 30 Tories to inflict a defeat on the government.
Downing Street fear a ping-pong battle as the Brexit Bill goes back and forth between the Commons and Lords.
Mrs May faces her first showdown this week as 27 Tory MPs threaten to wreck her plans by backing Labour and Lib Dem amendment.
Many are furious at what they see as too little time to discuss the plan before the Brexit button is pushed in just over 50 days’ time.
But former Chancellor Lord Lamont warned: “The threat to the Government’s timetable is potentially greater in the unelected House of Lords. The scope for mischief is there.”
He urged the PM to call a general election if peers delay her plans – and then abolish the House of Lords.
Mrs May would have to wait a year by law until she can invoke the Parliament Act to over-rule the Lords.
Former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan is threatened to rebel in next week’s debate.
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Tory MP Steve Baker, chairman of the pro-Brexit European Research Group, claims she is one of 27 Conservatives MPs preparing to rebel.
He said: “This is a time to unite behind a democratic result not plot to repudiate it. Any vote to amend this simple Bill is a vote against implementation of the referendum result.”
The row flared up as Tory whips piled pressure on would-be rebels ahead of a series of Brexit votes this week.
Labour, SNP and Lib Dem MPs have all tabled a string of amendments to the Article 50 Bill, which proposes starting Brexit talks.
They vary from demanding full access to the single market to holding a “meaningful vote” on the final Brexit deal.
The demands - which would become legally binding if approved - can only pass if Tory MPs vote for them because of the party’s majority.
Some Tories are sympathetic with calls from Opposition parties for EU citizen rights to be protected and for a “meaningful” vote to be held on the Brexit deal.
But few are committing privately to walking through the Division lobbies with Labour or the Lib Dems to support their amendments.
