Eurosceptics want to deny vote to Irish citizens in UK

Tory eurosceptics are demanding 340,000 Irish citizens be stripped of their right to vote in the looming in-out referendum on UK membership of the EU.

The British government is so concerned about the move it has warned rebels in its own ranks that such action would damage the peace process and endanger relations with Dublin.

The row exploded in the House of Lords as peers opposed to EU membership launched an unprecedented bid to ban Irish citizens from voting in Britain.