Theresa May makes the most of her political capital

With an ICM poll out today showing the Conservatives have an 18-point lead over Labour (one of the four worst results for Labour since the poll began in 1983), Theresa May clearly has a lot of political capital in the bank – and today she has been making the most of it.

As the government’s Article 50 bill arrived in the Lords for its second reading, the Prime Minister, too, made her way to the Second Chamber to observe the start of the debate. Sat on the steps below the royal throne, May’s presence acted as a reminder to the unelected house that ministers are taking the Lords’ deliberations very seriously.

While May has warned peers that she doesn’t want to see ‘anybody holding up what the British people want’, she does not have too much to worry about. Although the Lords could vote in favour of amendments on the rights of EU nationals and a meaningful vote, Lady Smith – the shadow leader in the House of Lords – has promised there will be no ‘extended ping pong’ with amendments being passed back and forth between the houses should the Commons reject them.