Ministers are bracing themselves for their first defeats in the House of Lords on legislation which will take Britain out of the European Union.

Peers are expected to vote for an amendment to the European Union Withdrawal Bill to force ministers to set how they might keep Britain in the customs union.

Another proposal to guarantee EU protections for workers and consumers in post-Brexit Britain is also to be approved by peers.

Other votes are planned for coming days, particularly a vote on April 30 on an amendment to give Parliament a vote before the UK can walk away with no deal.

This would give MPs the power to decide what course of action the Government should take if Parliament rejects the draft withdrawal agreement.

The likely defeats in the House of Lords on Wednesday will allow Government whips to identify the number of peers who are intent on voting down Brexit legislation.

However any measure approved by peers will have to be confirmed by another vote in the House of Commons.

Baroness Smith of Basildon, the shadow Leader of the Lords, said: “Our Peers won’t be shy about sending amendments to the Commons, giving MPs a further chance to scrutinise the detail of the Bill.”