May Defeated in Lords on Brexit, Signaling More Challenges Ahead
- Peers vote 348-225 to defeat May on amendment to key bill
- Scale of defeat may embolden Tory rebels against May
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The U.K.’s upper house voted against a key part of Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit policy, inflicting a defeat on the government that could eventually push it toward keeping closer ties with the European Union.
The defeat by a margin of more than 100 votes was on an amendment pressing May to seek a post-Brexit customs union with the EU. Staying in a customs union is a key demand of business as it would facilitate trade. It would also ease negotiations in Brussels, which haven’t made much progress on what trade ties will look like after the split.