Many peers and MPs have applied for an Irish passport to protect their rights to work in the EU

The number of MPs and peers who have applied for an Irish passport after Brexit is in the “double digits”, The Times understands.

Members of the Commons and Lords have sought to get dual citizenship because they do not want their rights to work and travel across the European Union to be restricted.

The revelation that peers and MPs are applying for foreign passports has led to calls for them to stand down from Parliament. Although making such an application is potentially constitutionally uncomfortable it is not against the rules.

One source said that a “surprising” number of British politicians had applied, stretching across all parties and both Houses of Parliament.

Ireland has long had widely drawn citizenship criteria to attract migrants. People with Irish