Lord Pannick led the charge against May's Brexiteer Cabinet in a debate over keeping EU's human rights charter in British law - and won.

Theresa May’s Brexit strategy suffered another blow this week, after a vote in the House of Lords resulted in the decision to keep the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights as part of British law.

The House of Lords assembled on Monday afternoon to discuss once more the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill. Among the amendments discussed was the provision to retain the charter as part of British human rights law.

No contribution to the debate was more fiery than crossbencher Baron David Panick’s, who accused the government of wanting to get rid of the nearly 20 year-old document because “they are suspicious of the very concept of fundamental rights.”

Speaking to Peers on Monday, Lord Pannick said:

“I fear that the Government have a bad reason for making an exception in this Bill for rights under the charter; I fear that it is because they are suspicious of the very concept of fundamental rights.

“I am puzzled as to which of the rights protected by the charter the Government take exception. Is it the freedom to conduct a business? Is it the rights of the child, the rights of the elderly or the rights of persons with disabilities, or the protection of the environment and of consumers?”

Inside the Lords, opposition to the amendment was feeble. Some equated the inclusion of the human rights charter in post-Brexit law as disrespectful of those who voted for Brexit.

Conservative peer, Lord Shinwik, argued that:

“A vote in support of [Lord Pannick’s amendment] would be a vote of no confidence in Parliament and in your Lordships’ House. It would be a vote of disdain ​for the clear majority of the British people, who voted to leave the EU.”

His call went unheard. The amendment was supported by 316 peers, by a majority of 71. Only 10 Conservative peers voted in favour of keeping the EU human rights charter enshrined in British law. Among them, former minister David Willetts and former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine.

The result was widely celebrated by human rights organisations and campaigners.

Human rights group Liberty director, Martha Spurrier, said:

“This is a huge victory for human rights and common sense. The Lords have sent a clear message to the Government – you can’t use Brexit to take away people’s rights.

“Singling out the Charter as the only law ministers refused to bring home from the EU was a cynically politicised move built on hostility to laws that protect us all from abuses of power. It’s time the Government provided the certainty our country needs and brought home all our hard-won rights.”

Amnesty International’s UK Director, Kate Allen, said:

“The Lords have stood up for reason, rights and democracy.

“These sensible limits do nothing more than hold the Government to their word about continuity of rights after Brexit.

“MPs now need to reflect on concerns raised by their colleagues in the Lords and ensure Brexit isn’t used as a Trojan horse for stripping people of their fundamental rights. Whether you voted in or out, there is no need for Brexit to mean losing out on rights.”

Remainers, who saw the vote as another “defeat” for the PM, were also seen publicly celebrating the events.

Best for Britain frontman Andrew Adonis was jubilant:

“This is the third major defeat for the Government on Europe in the House of Lords and demonstrates that Parliament is not prepared to give Theresa May a blank cheque Brexit.

“The hard Brexit that the Government has pursued for reasons of internal party management has no mandate and no majority.

“Momentum is now building for Parliament to ensure that there is a People’s Vote on Mrs May’s final deal.”

It remains to be seen if the Prime Minister’s Brexit Bill will even have anything left of its original form by the time it reaches a final vote.

Joana Ramiro is a reporter for Left Foot Forward. You can follow her on Twitter for all sorts of rants here.

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