Under-16s could be banned from  social media by the summer

Keir Starmer could bring in a ban on under-16s using social media by the summer to see off another backbench Labour rebellion.

The Prime Minister will attempt to head off a looming clash with his MPs by preparing the ground for limiting teen access to sites like Snapchat and TikTok at the end of a three-month consultation announced earlier this week.

It came after peers last night made clear they want Labour to introduce a ban without delay as they backed an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill that would force Labour's hand.

Sir Keir now faces the prospect of a major rebellion from his own backbenches when the Bill returns for a Commons vote after more than 60 Labour MPs publicly called for Britain to follow Australia, which became the first country to ban social media for young people last month.

Downing Street last night made clear it opposes the amendment and will fight it in the Commons, arguing that 'we have to gather the evidence and insight before changing the law'.

But in an attempt to placate the rebels a government source confirmed it will also start the 'legislative legwork' to allow it to act when the consultation ends 'whatever options we go for'.  Ministers have said they will respond to the consultation in the summer.

Last night, after the defeat in the Lords, education minister Baroness Smith of Malvern told peers: 'Rest assured, we will continue to act to keep protecting our children, as noble Lords have asked for today.'

Some 261 Peers voted to bring forward an immediate ban while 150 voted against it on Wednesday night.

Two Labour peers rebelled to back a ban, including former shadow minister Baroness Berger. 

It is understood that the amended Bill is likely to return to the Commons next month.

This raises the prospect of Labour whipping its MPs to vote against a social media ban for under-16s - only to perform another U-turn and introduce a ban this summer if the consultation recommends it.

On Wednesday night Tory Peer Lord Nash, one of the sponsors of the amendment, welcomed the victory. The former Schools Minister said: 'Tonight, peers put our children's future first. This vote begins the process of stopping the catastrophic harm that social media is inflicting on a generation.

'I will now work at pace with elected colleagues of all parties to ensure that the House of Commons raises the age limit for social media to 16 to protect children and give them their childhood back.'

It came as peers across all parties spoke in favour of introducing an immediate Australian-style ban.

Even critics of a ban said they were prepared to back one because the consultation will delay new measures to protect children until the summer at the earliest - meaning it could be eight months before the Government acts.

Baroness Kidron, a former Hollywood director who was the architect of the Government's children's code, said she had reservations but would back a ban as the sole purpose of Labour's consultation 'is to stave off a back bench rebellion'.

The crossbench peer added: 'It's not child safety, it's not governance, it's party management, and I believe the UK children deserve better than that.'

The cross-party amendment was also backed by Baroness Cass, one of Britain's leading paediatricians who led the review into NHS treatment of children with gender dysphoria.

She rejected the idea that the UK should wait to see what happens in Australia, telling Peers: 'I don't understand what extra information this consultation is going to give.'

Meanwhile Labour was forced to into another 11th hour concession on Wednesday night as ministers agreed to bring forward a ban more quickly - by using secondary legislation rather than requiring a whole new Bill - if the consultation does recommend it.