LONDON, May 8 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May suffered a twelfth defeat in the unelected House of Lords Tuesday when peers backed a move that would remove the March 29 exit date from the government European Union Withdrawal bill.
By a majority of just 22, peers backed a cross-party amendment which would remove the exit date bill which is currently being debated by the House of Lords at Westminster before returning to the House of Commons.
Later peers voted by 245 to 218 for another amendment, inflicting yet another government defeat for May. It would mean the government having to negotiate an international agreement enabling Britain to continue to participate in the European Economic Area (EEA) after exit day.
The Guardian newspaper commented that the 13th defeat for the government has suffered was probably the one that does most to challenge the government's Brexit plans because it is designed to keep Britain in the European single market.
The EEA provides for the free movement of people, goods, services and capital within the European Single Market, and is open to members of the EU as well as the European Free Trade Association.
May has insisted Britain quitting both the European single market and customs union when its membership of the EU ends.
The government's Brexit Minister in the House of Lords, Lord Callanan argued against the amendment to seek EEA membership saying it would not deliver control of British borders or laws as the UK would have to accept freedom of movement and EU regulations.
Lord Michael Forsyth said the amendment flies in the face of the biggest democratic vote in British history when people voted by a 52-48 majority to leave the EU.
Forsyth, who is a former Conservative cabinet minister said the amendment undermined the government's negotiating position.
"If the EU does not offer the UK a good deal, it will not get its 39 billion pounds," adding peers had to respect the referendum decision, and should not undermine it.
Baroness Angela Smith, Labor's leader in the Lords said the amendments are a further opportunity for MPs to consider the finer details of the Brexit legislation.
She said: "On our future working relations with EU agencies, many people, including within government, are only now becoming aware of the massive issues raised by our departure that ministers need to get right."
After completing its stormy passage through the House of Lords, the Brexit Bill will face its biggest test on its return to the House of Commons.
It will then become clear how May's government plans to respond to the double-digit amendments agreed by votes in the upper chamber. It will shape the government's response to Brexit as the final negotiating stage approaches.
Meanwhile media in Britain reported Tuesday that the University of Oxford has removed a picture of Theresa May to protect it from protests by students.
May's picture, part of a celebration of women who studied at Oxford, had been obscured by critical messages about immigration and Brexit.
A spokesperson at Oxford said the removal of Theresa May's picture was absolutely not done to make a political point, but had been taken down to keep it safe from mainly humorous satirical messages.
