Government urges MPs to pass Brexit Bill unamended after House of Lords setback

Brexit Secretary David Davis has encouraged MPs to leave the Government's Brexit Bill unchanged, days after the House of Lords voted in favour of amending the legislation.

Peers sent Theresa May's Bill back to the Commons when it voted in favour of an amendment guaranteeing Parliament a "meaningful" vote on the final divorce deal struck between the Government and European Union.

The move was Mrs May's second defeat over the Bill, the first which called for protections for EU nationals living in Britain.

But Mr Davis has urged MPs to leave the legislation unscathed when it is debated again in the Commons this week.

He warned that Mrs May should be allowed to "get on with the job" of triggering Britain's exit from the EU.

Peers voted in favour of amending the Brexit Bill last week Credit: PA

According to the Mail on Sunday, however, up to 10 Tory MPs could oppose the Government or abstain in the vote on the Bill, including former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan and ex-Chancellor Ken Clarke.

And Labour sources warned there was a 20% chance of peers sending the Bill back to the Commons again if their amendments are dismissed out of hand.

But Mr Davis has insisted that MPs should leave the legislation untouched.

"However they voted in the referendum, the majority of people now want the Prime Minister to be able to get on with the job," he said.

"By a majority of four to one, MPs passed straightforward legislation allowing the Government to move ahead with no strings attached.

"I will be asking MPs to send the legislation back to the House of Lords in its original form so that we can start building a Global Britain and a strong new partnership with the EU.

"Our new position in the world means we can restore national self-determination, build new trading links and become even more global in spirit and action."

'Father of the House' Ken Clarke could rebel, the Mail on Sunday said Credit: PA

The Bill could complete its final stages on Monday if the House of Lords accepts the decisions made by MPs when they vote on it earlier in the day.

Once the Bill is passed, Mrs May will be allowed to trigger the formal Article 50 process for quitting the EU.

Labour has been working closely with crossbenchers in the Lords on their response to the legislation and expects the final hurdle to be crossed as planned.

But a source warned: "If they are dismissed out of hand then they have got some problems.

"If there's no further reassurances, that's when the Government could get into difficulties."