Late breakthrough on bill blocking no-deal Brexit
The Government has paved the way for proposals seeking to block a no-deal Brexit on 31 October to become law before Parliament is suspended.
Lord Ashton of Hyde, Conservative chief whip in the Lords, announced the breakthrough following talks with Labour after a lengthy procedural battle threatened to run through the night.
He said all stages on the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 6) Bill will be completed in the Lords by 5pm on Friday.
He added his Commons counterpart Mark Spencer has agreed time will be made for any amendments by peers to be considered on Monday.
It is unclear what led to a breakthrough given the strong opposition of Boris Johnson's Government to the Bill in the Commons.
The proposed legislation requires a delay to Brexit beyond October 31 unless a divorce deal is approved or Parliament agrees to leaving the EU without one by October 19.
The Bill cleared the Commons on Wednesday and Labour moved a motion in a bid to ensure it would be dealt with by peers by 5pm on Friday, before Parliament is prorogued next week.
However, Labour's so-called guillotine motion on the Bill faced stiff opposition, with more than 100 amendments being submitted by mainly Brexit-backing Tory peers.
Claims of filibustering were aimed at opponents of the motion, which involves deliberately wasting time during a debate by making overlong speeches or raising unnecessary procedural points - in a bid to talk out a measure and stop it from progressing.
But shortly before 1.30am on Thursday, Lord Ashton told peers: "I am pleased to say we've concluded our usual channels conversations and subject to confirmation by the leader of the Opposition we have agreed that the current business of the House motion will be adjourned today and a new motion will be tabled tomorrow to allow the Bill to complete all stages in this House by 5pm on Friday 6 September.
"We have also received a commitment from the chief whip in the House of Commons that Commons consideration of any Lords amendments will take place on Monday and it is the Government's intention that the Bill be ready for Royal Assent.''
Baroness Smith of Basildon, Labour leader in the Lords, said she believed the large attendance of peers showed how much they valued the importance of the work done in the House and the issue up for debate.
She said: "I'm grateful we are now able to confirm that we will be able to complete all the stages of the Bill in the time-honoured way in the Lords by 5pm on Friday.
"I understand the anxieties, it was not an easy decision to decide we should table a motion to ensure that we could continue our deliberations and conclude them in good time for the Bill.''
Lady Smith said: "I can confirm tomorrow morning I will be tabling a new business motion that will confirm we will complete our consideration of the Bill by 5pm on Friday 6 September.''
Conservative peer Lord True, among the critics of Labour's business motion, said a "sensible deal has been reached''.
Proceedings on the motion began at 3.36pm on Wednesday.
Votes were being forced in the chamber as a way of eating up time, with each one lasting approximately 15 minutes.
After more than 15 votes, including on controversial closure motions designed to curtail debate, Lord Ashton announced a deal had been reached.