Peers voted by 316 to 245 in favour of retaining the Charter after Brexit.

The UK government’s defeat will now be considered in the Commons, where MPs may overturn it.

The Charter sets out a variety of civil, political and social rights for EU citizens.

Conservative peer, Lord Keen of Elie, said retaining the Charter would be “the greatest constitutional outrage since 1689”.

Following the vote, Martha Spurrier, director of Liberty, said: “This is a huge victory for human rights and common sense. The Lords have sent a clear message to the government – you can’t use Brexit to take away people’s rights.

“Singling out the Charter as the only law ministers refused to bring home from the EU was a cynically politicised move built on hostility to laws that protect us all from abuses of power. It’s time the government provided the certainty our country needs and brought home all our hard-won rights.”