Jeremy Corbyn hit by huge Lords rebellion as peers back Norway-style Brexit

3 min read08 May 2018

Peers have backed calls for the UK to strike a Norway-style soft Brexit deal after Jeremy Corbyn was hit by a massive rebellion.

In a major shock, the House of Lords voted 245 to 218 in favour of a cross-party amendment to the Government's flagship EU Withdrawal Bill.

It was the 13th defeat peers have inflicted on the landmark legislation, which seeks to transfer European law onto the UK statute book on Brexit day.

A total of 83 Labour peers defied party orders to abstain and instead voted for Britain to join Norway in the European Economic Area, effectively keeping the UK in the single market - the largest rebellion by its peers in years.

Some 17 Tories also broke their party whip by backing the move.

Proposing the amendment, Labour peer Lord Alli said it was in line with official party policy and was what the majority of its members wanted.

But Tory peer Lord Forsyth said: "What [Lord Alli] is proposing is that we fly in the face of the biggest democratic vote in our history."

Pro-EU Labour MPs welcomed the result of the vote.

This result is right by our values which stand for social justice+jobs - thats what the EEA is all about. Labour's peers have indicated the time for constructive ambiguity is over -our members & voters will be delighted with this clear signal we will oppose with this Tory Brexit

— Chuka Umunna (@ChukaUmunna) 8 May 2018

There is some hope! Lords ignore party whips and vote to keep UK in the EEA Single Market. This means MPs will have chance to decide now - please RT to let @Keir_Starmer and @jeremycorbyn know that we cannot afford for Labour frontbench to abstain again when it comes to Commons.
— Chris Leslie (@ChrisLeslieMP) 8 May 2018

Fantastic! The lords vote 245 to 218 to keep single market membership in play and give the Commons the chance to vote on it. Now we pick up the baton to fight for the best future for Britain - join us in @laboursinglemkt to make the case and thank you to all the lords who voted!
— stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) 8 May 2018

Amazing. @LabourLordsUK defy the Labour whip to vote for the EEA and Single Market which is, incidentally, party policy. Great news for the Commons to now look at.
— Ian Murray (@IanMurrayMP) 8 May 2018

Lord Newby, the Liberal Dem leader in the Lords, said: "This victory sends a clear message to those sat round the Cabinet table that Parliament won’t just sit back while Theresa May leads us towards a hard Brexit.

"245 Peers from all parties and none have voted to stay in the single market and protect the UK economy, defeating a Government hell-bent on pursuing ideology over prosperity."

MPs will have the chance to overturn the amendment when the bill returns to the Commons.

Shadow International Trade Secretary Barry Gardiner said on Sunday that Labour could not support remaining in the EEA.

He said: "We would have to be bound by the what's called the acquis, the regulations - but we would have no say in making those regulations."

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