12:36

Number 10 has reiterated this morning that the government has no intention of budging on the issue of EU citizens’ future status, despite its defeat in the House of Lords over the issue last night.

At the morning lobby briefing, the prime minister’s spokesman said:

I think it’s clear that we’re disappointed that the Lords have chosen to amend a bill that passed through the Commons without amendment; it’s a bill with a very simple purpose that’s just to enact the referendum result and allow the government to get on with the negotiations.

He underlined the fact that Theresa May does not expect to have to make concessions to get the bill through, saying: “The prime minister has made clear her intention that the bill should be passed unamended.”

Conservative rebels are unlikely to back the EU nationals amendment when the legislation passes back to the House of Commons later this month, and the bill will then pass back to the Lords, in a process known as “ping pong”.

Asked about how the government would handle that eventuality, the spokesman said: “We’ll deal with next week as and when we’re confronted with the situation.” He added: