Contributions
1,127 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBrexit: NegotiationsI fear I cannot agree with the noble Lord’s assessment. We want a deal. We believe that a deal is in our best interests and also, frankly, those of Ireland and Northern Ireland.…03 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: NegotiationsI thank my noble friend for his comments. He is absolutely right. We have been very clear that there will be no further infrastructure—there will be no hard border within Ireland.…03 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: NegotiationsThe principle behind the consent is that we believe any alignment with EU law in Northern Ireland must depend on the consent of those affected by it, which is why we believe this…03 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: NegotiationsI am afraid the noble Lord will not be happy, but I cannot say more than I have said. Some of the details of the exact mechanisms will be open to discussion. I will not pre-empt…03 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: NegotiationsI thank my noble friend for his more optimistic outlook. He is absolutely right: our proposal is that before the end of the transition period, then for every four years after…03 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: NegotiationsI once again reiterate: we have made very clear that there will be no return to a hard border in Northern Ireland and that we believe that it is only right that the people of…03 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: NegotiationsOur focus, and what we are aiming for, is a comprehensive, best-in-class free trade agreement. We believe that we can certainly achieve that. I reiterate once again, as I said in…03 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: NegotiationsWe have been very clear that, in the event of no deal—which we do not want—we would not put new infrastructure along the border. We very much hope that the EU and Ireland would…03 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: NegotiationsWell, I can certainly say that we are negotiating in good faith. Our seriousness in wanting to come up with a solution has been shown by the proposals that we have put forward,…03 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: NegotiationsWe are certainly not having that approach with our Irish colleagues; we want to work very closely with them. We realise and accept that there will have to be compromise on both…03 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: NegotiationsI thank my noble friend, and I can say that the tariff schedule will be published shortly.03 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: NegotiationsI can only defer to my noble friend on his knowledge in this area. The concerns that have been expressed across the House are noted. As I have said, the exact mechanisms in this…03 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: NegotiationsI thank the noble Baroness for her constructive comments. She is right that I will not be stepping into negotiations from the Dispatch Box, but I can certainly reiterate that, as…03 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: NegotiationsThe noble Lord is right: if consent was withheld, the arrangements would not come into force or would lapse after one year. On his second point, the Prime Minister is absolutely…03 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: NegotiationsI apologise to the noble Lord. I am afraid it is not in my little book of words, so I will have to go back. I am happy to write to noble Lords and put something in the Library.03 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: NegotiationsI can certainly say that the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and Ministers have been engaging with MPs throughout the Conservative Party. They have also been having conversations with…03 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: NegotiationsWatching the exchanges in the House of Commons, it certainly felt like there was a more constructive tone than we perhaps saw last week. This is an extremely difficult situation.…03 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexit: NegotiationsI can certainly take the noble Lord’s comments back. As I say, we are working very hard with the Irish Government. One of the first people the Prime Minister spoke to yesterday…03 Oct 2019HANSARDBusiness of the HouseThat the debate on the motion in the name of Lord Ramsbotham set down for today shall be limited to 3 hours and that in the name of Lord Harries of Pentregarth to 2 hours.03 Oct 2019HANSARDUpdate to ParliamentIn relation to the noble Baroness’s point about the decision, I have said repeatedly that we accept the judgment and we accept that we lost the case. I will not comment on Cabinet…25 Sept 2019