Government suffers double defeat in nuclear vote

The House of Lords has voted down the government’s plans to withdraw from the European Atomic Energy Community without having a replacement deal, and backed an amendment requiring it to report regularly to parliament over future arrangements.

On 20 March, peers voted by 265 to 194 for an amendment requiring the UK not to withdraw from Euratom until a replacement deal is in place.

The amendment binds the government to suspending its withdrawal from Euratom unless it reaches an agreement for the International Atomic Energy Agency to recognise the Office of Nuclear Regulation as the UK nuclear safeguarding authority, as well as deals with other countries to replace the arrangements the UK has through Euratom.