Lords begins consideration of Commons changes to Lords amendments to EU Withdrawal Bill - minister Lord Callanan says customs union already repeatedly considered
Baroness Smith of Basildon "The Lords should not engage in ping pong lightly" - Lords performing constiutional role
"When Dutch Govt is advising its manufacturers not to buy components form UK because our future customs relationship with EU is unclear, we know there is a problem that needs to be addressed urgently," says Baroness Smith re Sky News #rulesoforigin story news.sky.com/story/european…
Lord Newby suggests that the Lords hold seminar for journalist on how ping pong works...
"My Lords I'll speak very briefly because like everyone else I want to watch a football game this evening," says Lord Grocott... fellow peer shouts: "Speak for youself" incredulously
OK - so Lords now considering meaningful vote amendments including Douglas Hogg’s late one this morning that restates what MPs say PM promised last week... Baroness Evans saying that deadlines would make it hard to negotiate, and impractically change constitutional role of Govt
Viscount Hailsham on meaningful vote: “Grieve 2 Amendment reflects the agreement Mr Grieve thought he agreed with the Solicitor General, which was then repudiated”...
Hailsham now explaining to the Lords how the Commons were given promises: - “The PM herself gave personal assurances that their concerns about a no deal Brexit would be addressed...”
“Grieve 2 amendment sets out the agreement he thought he agreed with the Solicitor General..” says Hailsham...
Criticised for consulting with Opp front benches Hailsham: “This is the High Court of Parliament and we are not party hacks..perfectly true I don’t believe in Brexit..a national calamity but what I believe above all is that the Commons shd have decisive say one way or another”.
“This Government has sought to prevent a meaningful vote in every possible way, and What I want to ensure is that Parliament has a meaningful vote and I do not want its left to chance..: 
“The Government’s amendment is far worse - The Government is seeking to make the promised meaningful vote impossible... deliberately removing the possibility, and is moved at least in part” says Hailsham, refusing to give way...
“Was it wise? Was it prudent? Was it responsible to start the A50 negotiations without a firm collective agreement about where we wanted to go? Was it a serious error of judgement?.... in event of No Deal, Commons should have power to intervene. PM’s promise as yet not honoured”
Lord True who wants to amend Hailsham amendment to guarantee Brexit won’t be reversed or delayed, says Hailsham “just indulged some Disraelian oratory on a Gladstonean scale” - says people are getting tired of this - wonder if Govt will put this amendment in Commons?
“My noble friend Viscount Hailsham is acting as Dominic Grieve’s representative here on earth” says Lord True - getting quite personal here
Former Tory leader Lord Howard: “This is not a debate about the integrity of Mr Dominic Grieve, and for my part I will do my best to avoid mentioning his name again”. Grieve is standing just behind him, observing alongside other MPs
Lord Lamont says that Lord Dobson has plenty of material for new House of Cards chapters after Chief Whip in Commons seen “crawling on his knees like a courtier in the Court of the King of Siam, a role played by the Right honourable and learned Dominic Grieve”
