Lords defy government over refugee children's right to family reunion

Alf Dubs among peers voting in favour of right of asylum-seekers to join relatives in UK

The government has suffered a defeat in the House of Lords as peers voted in support of an amendment to its flagship immigration bill designed to protect family reunion rules for asylum-seekers beyond Brexit.

The clause, tabled by four peers including Alf Dubs, a former child refugee, aims to ensure that rights under UK law to family reunion, at present covered by EU legislation known as the Dublin III treaty, will continue after the transition period.