Peers have inflicted a crushing defeat on the government over its approach to China’s human rights record by voting for a second time to amend a trade bill and give British courts a role in determining whether a country is committing genocide.

Any such judicial determination would require the UK to review any bilateral trade agreement with Beijing, because of its abuses against Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang, and other regimes accused of genocide.Ministers move to stop backbench revolt over UK courts’ role in genocide rulingsRead more

Peers on a cross-party basis voted on Tuesday by 359 to 188 – a majority of 171 – to insist the UK courts should be handed this new role, and the issue will now go back to the Commons next week. Ministers oppose the measure.