UK withdrawal agreement: Lords debates Brexit deal

Members of the House of Lords debated the government's Brexit deal and declaration on the future relationship with the EU on Monday 10 December.

Day three - Monday 10 December

Due to the anticipated postponement of the debate and vote in the House of Commons, the House of Lords voted to adjourn its own debate until the prime minister's statement was repeated by Baroness Evans of Bowes Park (Conservative), the Leader of the House of Lords.

Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour), the Lords Leader of the Opposition, proposed to adjourn the House, and there was a division (vote), with 201 members agreeing and 163 members disagreeing. This meant the House paused, returning when the Leader of the Lords repeated the prime minister's statement.

Statement repeat - Baroness Evans of Bowes Park

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park, the Leader of the House of Lords, repeated a statement titled 'Exiting the EU', followed by questions from members of the House of Lords.

Following the statement, the House rose (ended business).

Further debate on the withdrawal deal and future relationship is scheduled for Wednesday 9, Thursday 10 and Monday 14 January.

Day two - Thursday 6 December

Members continued to debate the negotiated deal and the framework for the future relationship with the EU. They covered many policy areas including future trade arrangements, the backstop agreement and the responsibilities of Parliament and government.

Day one - Wednesday 5 December

Catch up on Parliament TV - part one
Catch up on Parliament TV - part two
Read the Lords Hansard transcript - part one
Read the Lords Hansard transcript - part two

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park (Conservative), Leader of the House of Lords, opened the debate and the leaders of other parties and groups responded:

In the first day of debate members of the Lords discussed many policy areas including the possibility of a second referendum, the backstop arrangements in the proposed deal, UK security after exit and Northern Ireland.

Lords debates withdrawal deal and future relationship

The debate is on three connected motions.

The first motion, put forward by the Leader of the House of Lords, Baroness Evans of Bowes Park (Conservative), proposes that the House takes note of the negotiated withdrawal agreement and framework for the future relationship with the EU.

The second motion, proposed by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lords, Baroness Smith of Basildon (Labour), notes that the House of Commons must determine the matter, but that the House of Lords emphatically rejects a no deal outcome to negotiations. Baroness Smith's motion also regrets that the withdrawal agreement and political declaration would do grave damage to the future economic prosperity, internal security and global influence of the UK.

Lord Butler of Brockwell (Crossbench), has proposed a motion amending Baroness Smith's motion. His motion would leave out the words after "rejected": in other words, his motion rejects a no deal outcome, but does not regret the terms of the negotiated deal and political declaration.

According to the EU (Withdrawal) Act, the House of Lords must debate the negotiated withdrawal agreement and the framework for the future relationship with the EU before the government may ratify the agreement.

If Baroness Smith's motion is agreed, it will not stop the withdrawal agreement, but will put on record the House's regret.

Further information

EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018 on legislation.gov.uk (external site)
Lords Library briefing - Publishing Government Legal Advice
See the motions for debate

Attend debates in the chamber
Follow @ukhouseoflords on Twitter
Like House of Lords on Facebook
Watch House of Lords videos on YouTube
View House of Lords photos on Flickr
Connect with Lords on the Lords Digital Chamber

Image: House of Lords 2018 / Photography by Annabel Moeller