Lib Dem peers win vote to protect child refugees

Liberal Democrat peers yesterday helped to inflict another defeat on the Conservative Government in the House of Lords, this time on a vote to protect child refugees.

By 300 to 220, the House of Lords passed an amendment to the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill to maintain the rights of unaccompanied refugee children elsewhere in Europe to be reunited with their family members in the UK.

This marks the fourth government defeat on the Bill, after the Lords passed three amendments yesterday: one moved by Liberal Democrat peer Jonny Oates to guarantee the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, and two to prevent Ministers from instructing lower courts to ignore legal precedent.

The Bill is set to return to the House of Commons tomorrow, when the Conservative Government is expected to try to overturn these amendments - against opposition from Liberal Democrat MPs.

Following the vote, Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Hamwee, who argued for the amendment in the House of Lords, said:

"Liberal Democrats will not stand by while the Conservative Government uses Brexit to undermine the UK's proud tradition of providing sanctuary to some of the world's most vulnerable people.

"I am proud that Liberal Democrat peers have, along with the tireless campaigner Lord Dubs, passed this crucial amendment to uphold our commitments to child refugees.

"I hope that MPs will resist government pressure to overturn today's vote in the House of Commons."