Documents to download

On 10 December 2018, the House of Lords adjourned the debate it was holding on the withdrawal agreement and political declaration agreed by the Government and the EU during the Brexit negotiations. This debate was being held to fulfil the requirements on the House of Lords under section 13 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, which sets out certain steps that must be taken before the UK would be able to ratify the withdrawal agreement. The Lords adjourned its debate when the Government decided not to go ahead with a planned vote on the withdrawal agreement and political declaration in the House of Commons—what has become known as the ‘meaningful vote’. This briefing summarises recent developments which may influence when the Lords has the opportunity to debate this matter again. It does not cover what might happen were the Commons to decide not to approve the withdrawal agreement and political declaration in a rescheduled ‘meaningful vote’.


Documents to download

Related posts

  • House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill: Second reading in the House of Lords

    The government’s House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill would remove the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords and abolish its jurisdiction in hereditary peerage claims. The bill completed its Commons stages unamended and was introduced in the House of Lords in November 2024. The bill’s second reading in the Lords took place on 11 December 2024. This briefing provides an overview of that debate and lists the areas which future amendments could focus on.

    House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill: Second reading in the House of Lords
  • House of Lords Appointments Commission: Role and powers

    The House of Lords Appointments Commission (HOLAC) vets nominations to the House and recommends non-party political members. While its advice is usually followed, it is not a statutory body and the prime minister can choose to disregard its advice. This briefing provides an overview of the role and powers of the commission and summarises recent debates concerning its reform.

    House of Lords Appointments Commission: Role and powers