At last, after weeks of several
rumours and predictions for/against Theresa May’s Brexit bill in the House of
Lords, the much anticipated amendment in favour of EU nationals living in the
UK has scaled through.
Peers on Wednesday supported the
amendment whose aim is to ensure that EU nationals living in the country are
duly protected.
The government suffered a major
defeat in the House, after a total of 358 voted in favour of Labour amendment
to the bill, while 256 voted against it.
Thus, a call has been made to
ministers requiring them to within months of Article 50 being triggered,
unilaterally bring forward assurances for the 3.5 million people from the bloc
living in Britain.
Prior to Wednesday’s sitting, the
Home Secretary already knowing the likelihood of what was going to happen,
attempted to avoid the defeat, by writing to peers of the protection of
nationals of other EU member countries living the UK.
Prior to the debate which led to
the vote that gave a big blow to the government, peers narrated how most of
them have been receiving letters from different persons concerning the safety
and security of their family members.
Before the vote took place, the
Government representative on Brexit in the House of Lords, Lord Bridges of
Headley, made emotional appeal in order to ensure the defeat of the amendment.
He said: "The status of EU
nationals is one of the most emotive issues created by this debate; the lives
of over four million people who have chosen to make this country their homes.
"I'd like to make two core
points. First... between now and the date of exit, nothing will change for EU
nationals living in the UK.
"Any EU citizen who is
exercising EU treaty rights or has the right to remain, continues to have those
rights to remain. There is no need to apply for a document to prove this.
"An EU national who has been
here for five years does not have to apply for a document to prove their right
to be here permanently.
"The bill to repeal the
European Communities Act (the Great Repeal Bill) will not be used to change our
immigration system. This will be done through a separate immigration bill.
"After we have left the EU,
the UK will continue to be bound by and observe the ECHR (European Court of
Human Rights), which, in accordance with Article Eight, and appropriate case
law, will protect EU nationals' rights to... their private and family life.
"So... nothing will change
for any EU citizen... without this Parliament's approval."
Speaking further, he stressed
that the issue of long-term rights of EU nationals residing in the UK and vice-versa
will be put to rest in the early stage of the negotiation once Article is
triggered.
Shadow Brexit minister Baroness
Hayter of Kentish Town, who was sponsor of
the amendment, stated her concerns for EU citizens, as the government
plan to use them as “bargaining chips” during the negotiations.
She said EU nationals here and
British expats living in Europe should not be "traded against each
other".
According sources from the Government
ministers will now seek to overturn defeat in the Commons.
If they succeed it would then go
back to the Lords, although analysts say it is unlikely peers would force a
second vote. On the other hand, such a process could possibly delay the bill.
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