UK’s House of Lords deals new blow to govt’s EU exit plans
LONDON — Prime Minister Theresa May’s plans for steering Britain out of the European Union ran into more opposition Tuesday as Parliament’s unelected House of Lords approved legislative changes restricting the government’s room to manoeuvr in divorce talks.
Parliament’s upper chamber voted for a bill authorizing the start of exit negotiations, but with an amendment requiring lawmakers, not just the government, to approve Britain’s exit deal with the EU.
The 366-268 vote is a headache, but not a roadblock, for the government. The bill now returns to the elected House of Commons, which can — and likely will — undo the change next week.
May’s Conservative Party has a majority in the Commons, but not the Lords.