UK's May Says Lords Must Respect People's Will on Brexit

Britain's House of Lords launched a bid Monday to gain a greater say for Parliament over the terms of the U.K.'s European Union exit, as Prime Minister Theresa May warned lawmakers not to hold up "what the British people want" by trying to delay the process.

The Lords can't overrule the elected House of Commons, which has already passed the bill. But opposition members of the Lords are seeking amendments to guarantee Parliament a bigger say in the negotiations. Any amendments they pass would go back to the Commons for approval.

That parliamentary "ping pong" could delay the bill's passage, endangering the government's self-imposed March 31 deadline for triggering two years of Brexit negotiations.

Angela Smith, the opposition Labour Party's leader in the Lords, promised that "we will not block, wreck or sabotage the legislation before us."

But, she added, "neither should we provide the government with a blank check."

Natalie Evans, the Conservative leader of the Lords, said Parliament must respect voters' decision in a June referendum to leave the 28-nation bloc. She warned colleagues not to try to "restrict the government's hand before it enters into complex negotiations or attempt to re-run the referendum."

Former Foreign Secretary William Hague — now Lord Hague — said Parliament should pass the bill, let the government start negotiations and "end the uncertainty" surrounding Britain's future.

"The country cannot go around in circles," he told the House of Lords.

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