Theresa May has promised a "robust" response to the defeats by the House of Lords over Brexit amid concern from her ministers that peers were seeking to "thwart" the UK's departure from the European Union.

At a Cabinet meeting yesterday, ministers expressed their "strong disappointment" at measures passed by the Lords which risked "tying the Government's hands behind its back in negotiations with Brussels", Downing Street said.

Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, suggested peers were using a "backdoor mechanism" to delay exit from the EU "indefinitely".

In a blow to Mrs May's Brexit plans, the House of Lords voted to give Parliament the final say on the outcome of the negotiations.

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Asked about the Lords vote, the Prime Minister's spokesman said: "There is a role for the upper chamber to play in providing scrutiny but the British public have voted to leave the European Union and Parliament needs to get on and deliver that."

In an indication the Government will seek to overturn the defeat when the European Union Withdrawal Bill returns to the Commons, Mrs May told her Cabinet that "the Government would be robust", and it was "vital to ensure that the legislation is able to deliver the smooth Brexit which is in the interests of everybody in the UK".

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But Jeremy Corbyn suggested his MPs would seek to retain the extra powers for Parliament sought by the Lords.

The Labour leader said: "Parliament should have the final say on the terms of leaving the European Union and if we don't accept the decisions that the Government has made, then they should be sent back to negotiate again.”

But Dr Fox, one of the most committed Brexiteers in Cabinet, was scathing about the Lords vote; one of three defeats on Monday night.

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"We can't have a situation where the clearly expressed will of the people in a referendum is thwarted by effectively procedural devices that would keep us in the EU indefinitely," he declared.

The Scot added: "There is quite a big debate now about whether the unelected House can actually thwart the view of the British electorate in a referendum and what's been happening in terms of the legislation coming from the House of Commons."