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The House of Lords voted overwhelmingly in favour of an amendment to the Prime Minister’s proposed Brexit legislation. Peers have demanded Theresa May guarantees the rights of EU nationals currently living in the UK within three months of triggering Article 50 and notifying Brussels of Britain’s departure. The Government had hoped its Article 50 Bill would pass through the House of Lords unamended, as it had through the House of Commons. But the successful amendment over the rights of EU nationals means the Bill will now return to MPs for their reconsideration after it completes its passage through the House of Lords. A total of 358 peers voted in favour of the amendment, with 256 voting against. Responding to the defeat, a Government spokesperson from the Department for Exiting the EU said: “We are disappointed the Lords have chosen to amend a Bill that the House Commons passed without amendment. "The Bill has a straightforward purpose - to enact the referendum result and allow the Government to get on with the negotiations. “Our position on EU nationals has repeatedly been made clear. We want to guarantee the rights of EU citizens who are already living in Britain, and the rights of British nationals living in other member states, as early as we can.”

Earlier this week, Home Secretary Amber Rudd wrote a letter to peers offering assurances over EU nationals’ rights in a bid to stave off defeat. The Government has argued it cannot guarantee the rights of EU nationals in the UK until British expats living on the Continent also have their rights guaranteed by Brussels. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is reported to have blocked Mrs May’s previous attempts to secure an early reciprocal agreement on the issue. The House of Commons will now have to decide whether to accept the peers’ successful amendment or to vote against it, in which case it would pass back to the House of Lords in a process known as ‘ping pong’. Peers have suggested it is unlikely they will vote against the Bill for a second time.

PA Theresa May had hoped her Article 50 would be left unamended

Images from inside the House of Lords: Peers have voted to guarantee EU citizens' rights Wed, March 1, 2017 The House of Lords voted overwhelmingly in favour of an amendment to the Prime Minister’s proposed Brexit legislation Play slideshow PA 1 of 11 A packed House of Lords, London, as the Government is facing possible defeat in the House of Lords as peers push for guarantees over the rights of EU nationals living in the UK after Brexit

PA Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron branded the defeat a 'embarrassment' for the Government

Labour MP and leading Brexit supporter Gisela Stuart, chair of the Change Britain group, said: "This Bill is simply about giving the Prime Minister the authority to trigger Article 50. Nothing more, nothing less. "There are of course issues which need to be resolved, such as the status of EU nationals, but these should be done separately to the Bill. "There will be plenty of opportunities to debate these issues in the coming months, and guaranteeing the rights of EU citizens will be a priority. "The British people voted in their millions to leave the EU, and their elected MPs passed the Article 50 Bill without amendment. The House of Lords should do the same and not seek to frustrate the Brexit process." Ukip MEP Bill Etheridge said: "The House of Lords has this evening proved it needs replacing with a democratic chamber and not be stuffed with cronies and party donors. They have put their own political wishes above the wishes of the voters."

PARLIAMENT.TV The Government was defeated in the House of Lords in a crunch vote on its Article 50 Bill

The House of Lords should not seek to frustrate the Brexit process. Labour MP Gisela Stuart

But leading Remain-supporting MPs welcomed the Government's defeat. Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: "This is an embarrassing defeat for the Government. "Theresa May is failing the three million EU citizens that live in this country. Her Conservative Brexit Government is leaving our friends, neighbours and colleagues in a state of fear. "The Prime Minister must now listen and accept this amendment. I can guarantee that Liberal Democrats will keep trooping through the lobbies time after time, if needed, to defend EU citizens' rights. “People must not be used as pawns in Theresa May’s dangerous game. Her position leaves lives, families and futures hanging in the balance.” Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn hailed the vote as "great news" while his shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the Government defeat as an "important step forward". He said: “For months Labour has been urging the Prime Minister to end unnecessary uncertainty for EU citizens in the UK, and I am delighted our colleagues in the Lords have sent this clear message to the Prime Minister. “Labour believe that EU nationals should not be used as bargaining chips in Brexit negotiations. There is a growing consensus that this must be resolved before Article 50 is triggered, and the Prime Minister is now increasingly isolated. “Labour will continue to support this simple but effective amendment when it returns to the Commons, and urge MPs on all sides of the House to do so.”

Great news. The government must now do the decent thing and guarantee the rights of EU citizens living in the UK https://t.co/HWJUfxfqRl — Jeremy Corbyn MP (@jeremycorbyn) March 1, 2017

The Westminster retirement home for old party donors should be abolished. #brexit — Jane Collins MEP (@Jane_CollinsMEP) March 1, 2017