The Liberal Democrats have made a bid to secure Britain’s membership of an influential nuclear organisation.

The party has tabled an amendment to the Brexit Bill that would retain the UK’s place in the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), which promotes research into nuclear power and safety standards. Experts have raised concern about the implications of the UK's withdrawal.

The amendment was tabled by Liberal Democrat peers including Lord Robin Teverson and debated in the House of Lords yesterday (Tuesday), ahead of a vote expected next month.

Rebecca Hanson, the Lib Dems’ Copeland candidate, said: “Theresa May’s plans for a hard Brexit pose a huge threat to local jobs.

“Only the Liberal Democrats are fighting to defend vital European cooperation on nuclear energy and to give the people the final say on the Brexit deal the Government comes back with.”

Party leader Tim Farron added: “This is creating damaging uncertainty for the nuclear industry in Copeland.

“We will aim to overturn this and remind Theresa May she doesn’t have a blank cheque for a hard Brexit that would make the country and West Cumbria poorer.”