Lords Debate Illegal Migration Bill Until 4:16 am, Peers Criticize Late Hours

The bill gives ministers power to remove anyone arriving in the UK illegally and migrants would be barred from claiming asylum.

The Lords was holding its third day of debate on the bill's committee stage, where changes to the bill are discussed.

Some peers argued that important matters, including the care of unaccompanied migrant children and detention of pregnant women, were being debated at an unusual hour.

The Conservative chief whip defended the late hours, saying that the House "detained itself" by repeating arguments during the debate.

The longest single sitting of the Lords was in 2005, when peers sat for over 32 hours to consider amendments to the Prevention of Terrorism Bill.