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Peers line up to debate EU bill Peers line up to debate EU bill
(about 3 hours later)
The House of Lords is packed as members line up to debate the government's crucial Brexit bill. A packed House of Lords has started debating the government's crucial Brexit bill.
The EU (Withdrawal) Bill is aimed at ensuring a smooth transition when Brexit happens and EU law no longer applies in the UK.The EU (Withdrawal) Bill is aimed at ensuring a smooth transition when Brexit happens and EU law no longer applies in the UK.
It has already cleared the Commons, but peers could now try to change it with 190 of them having requested a say. It has already cleared the Commons, but peers could now try to change it with nearly 190 of them requesting a say.
Some critics are angry about the powers it gives ministers to amend legislation without consulting Parliament.Some critics are angry about the powers it gives ministers to amend legislation without consulting Parliament.
The bill aims to transpose existing EU law on to the UK statute book so existing rules and regulations continue to apply as the UK leaves on 29 March 2019.The bill aims to transpose existing EU law on to the UK statute book so existing rules and regulations continue to apply as the UK leaves on 29 March 2019.
It will also end the supremacy of EU law in the UK.It will also end the supremacy of EU law in the UK.
Opening a two-day debate, Lords Leader Baroness Evans said the measures were "vital to a smooth and orderly exit from the EU".Opening a two-day debate, Lords Leader Baroness Evans said the measures were "vital to a smooth and orderly exit from the EU".
She said the government understood concerns about ministers using "delegated powers" to make changes to some laws, but said this gave the government the "discretion that this unique situation calls for".She said the government understood concerns about ministers using "delegated powers" to make changes to some laws, but said this gave the government the "discretion that this unique situation calls for".
Failing to "correct deficiencies" could cause disruption to the City of London, she said, adding that any major changes would be done using primary legislation.Failing to "correct deficiencies" could cause disruption to the City of London, she said, adding that any major changes would be done using primary legislation.
On Monday the Lords Constitutional Committee said the bill needed to be reworked because it was "fundamentally flawed" and "constitutionally unacceptable".On Monday the Lords Constitutional Committee said the bill needed to be reworked because it was "fundamentally flawed" and "constitutionally unacceptable".
Another contentious part of the bill concerns devolution - and what happens to powers which are currently not reserved to Westminster, but which are exercised from Brussels. The UK government has been accused of a "power grab" by the Scottish and Welsh governments.
It has promised amendments to address their concerns.
As the bill started its passage through the Lords, Labour's Baroness Smith said it was time to move on from "slick soundbites" about Brexit to the "nitty gritty of the detail".
Lord Newby, the leader of the Liberal Democrats in the Lords, said the Bill "exhibits the arrogance and incompetence of the Government in equal measure".