Anger as Tory MPs vote down bids to help refugee kids, EU citizens and workers
Labour and the Lib Dems have slammed Tory MPs for voting down a string of attempts to improve the lot of EU citizens, refugee children and workers' rights after Brexit .
Ten amendments to Boris Johnson's Withdrawal Agreement Bill were defeated in the last two days as the law prepares to sail through its final Commons stages tonight.
MPs raised a string of concerns about how vulnerable groups will be protected when Brexit takes effect on January 31.
If they'd been put last year, the MPs' amendments might have stood a chance of passing. But because Boris Johnson won an 80-seat majority, they were all now more or less doomed to fail unless backed by the government.
Among 10 amendments formally defeated on Tuesday and Wednesday were a bid to force more accountability on ministers over whether there would be a pact to let child refugees join family in the UK.
Scroll down for the full list of the amendments
The government also defeated bids to give EU citizens the right to appeal over their status to a tribunal, and to match future EU laws on workers' rights.
And they blocked a bid to give MPs a key vote on the future trading relationship with the EU.
Ministers have insisted they are already committed to helping these groups – and say they'll bring forward a separate Employment Bill to deal with workers' rights issues.
Brexit minister James Duddridge said: "There's no suggestion that this Government would propose, or this Parliament would allow, a change or regression in workers' rights to make them lower than is currently required by the EU law."
And Brexit Minister Robin Walker said the police on child refugees had not changed, telling MPs: "This Government is fully committed both to the principle of family reunion and to supporting the most vulnerable children.
"The Home Secretary wrote to the commission on October 22 to start negotiations with the European Union on future arrangements… We will also continue to reunite children with their families under the Dublin Regulation during the implementation period."
But Shadow solicitor general Nick Thomas-Symonds said the Government "can't and won't be trusted on workers' rights".
Lib Dem Brexit spokesman Alistair Carmichael said: "Last night Boris Johnson's Conservative MPs turned their back on child refugees, stripped young people of their opportunities abroad and undermined workers rights.
"The Tories dislike it when they are labelled as insular and inhumane, but by blocking the Liberal Democrat amendment yesterday to protect family reunion rights for unaccompanied child refugees, as well as scrapping the Erasmus scheme, means they have more than earned those labels.
"The Liberal Democrats will continue to fight the Conservatives on their cruel and damaging plans."
Labour chair Ian Lavery said: "It is disgraceful that one of the first act of Boris Johnson’s government is to separate child refugees from their families.
"These MPs should be ashamed of themselves."
So what were the actual amendments? Each of them is very, very long, but here's a rough summary of each one.
Full list of amendments which Tory MPs voted down
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EU citizens' rights: Clause would have written an existing pledge into the Bill to let EU citizens in the UK obtain a residence document – giving them permanent residence rights. Voted down 342-252 by Tories and DUP.
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EU citizens' appeals: Clause would have given EU citizens the right to appeal to an independent tribunal if they are denied settled status under post-Brexit immigration rules. Voted down 343-251 by Tories and some DUP.
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Fees for EU citizens: Clause would have capped the fees for EU citizens to apply to stay at the cost of exercising the function by the state. They could also be waived if discriminatory. Voted down 341-255 by Tories and DUP.
- Workers' rights: Clause would have forced ministers to make an agreement to follow all existing and new EU workers' rights laws after Brexit – and make a statement every 28 days on progress.
- Child refugees: Amendment would have forced more accountability on ministers if they do not form a plan for unaccompanied child refugees seeking to join family in UK. Voted down 348-252 by Tories and DUP.
- Ministers' power: Amendment would have curbed extra 'Henry VIII' style direct powers given to ministers to invoke arrangements for the Northern Irish border. Voted down 340-262 by the Tories.
- Future relationship: Clause would have blocked ministers from negotiating future trade until they've given MPs a vote to approve the overall mandate. Voted down 251-347 by Tories and DUP.
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Northern Ireland: Clause would have forced ministers to mitigate Northern Irish firms, including not passing border admin costs to them, and make an impact assessment once a year. Voted down 337-262 by Tories.
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Erasmus: Make it a negotiating objective to continue taking part in the EU's Erasmus student exchange programme. Voted down 344-254 by Tories and DUP.
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Single market: Secure an agreement that keeps "close alignment" with the EU's single market and "dynamic alignment" on workers' rights and protections. Voted down 250-345 by Tories and DUP.
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