Contributions
4,729 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBrexit: Discussions with the European UnionMy Lords, the UK and the EU have agreed a deal that works for the UK’s economy, security and the union. As noble Lords will be aware, the House of Commons has rejected this deal…20 Jun 2019HANSARDBrexit: Discussions with the European UnionNo. [ Laughter . ]20 Jun 2019HANSARDBrexit: Discussions with the European UnionAs always, my noble and learned friend makes some wise points, but an amendment was agreed in the House of Commons: the so-called Brady amendment on alternative arrangements to…20 Jun 2019HANSARDBrexit: Discussions with the European UnionI take the noble Baroness’s point: I was being slightly facetious in my answer. Of course there is interest in what the policy of the next Prime Minister will be, but I do not…20 Jun 2019HANSARDBritish Citizens’ RightsNo, I do not agree with my noble friend on this. I thought it was right and proper that we provided the guarantees to EU citizens. As I said, I think we have taken the right…18 Jun 2019HANSARDBritish Citizens’ RightsI thank my noble friend for his support, but we have already started to implement, effectively, our no-deal guarantee. We have already opened the settled status scheme for…18 Jun 2019HANSARDBritish Citizens’ RightsI agree with my noble friend. We have published a whole series of technical notices—over 100—about how businesses can prepare for no deal. Government preparations are continuing…18 Jun 2019HANSARDBritish Citizens’ RightsWe are committed to respecting the rights of EU citizens. The noble Baroness will know that it was one of our priorities in the negotiations. It was the first issue to be…18 Jun 2019HANSARDBritish Citizens’ RightsMy Lords, on timing, as Members of the House know, European elections were held between 23 and 26 May, and government activity needed to respect the purdah period imposed in…18 Jun 2019HANSARDBritish Citizens’ RightsMy Lords, with the leave of the House, I will now repeat a Statement made in the other place earlier today by my honourable friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for…18 Jun 2019HANSARDBritish Citizens’ RightsA lot of the preparation that was done is still in place. Some immediate urgent actions were put in place in preparation for a possible leaving date in March; these of course were…18 Jun 2019HANSARDBritish Citizens’ RightsI answered my noble friend in full. We have produced these technical notices to businesses and have engaged in extensive discussions, in this House and in the other place,…18 Jun 2019HANSARDBritish Citizens’ RightsThe noble Lord is confusing two issues: the leadership election in the Conservative Party is a different event from the rights guaranteed for citizens. We are communicating, as I…18 Jun 2019HANSARDBritish Citizens’ RightsThe noble and gallant Lord raises a good point. We have met with the representative groups; most Ministers, myself included, try to schedule meetings with citizens’ groups when we…18 Jun 2019HANSARDBrexit: Cross-party DiscussionsI thank the noble Baroness for the implication in her question that Labour respects the referendum result. Obviously, I totally agree with that. If that is the case, it is…16 May 2019HANSARDBrexit: Cross-party DiscussionsI think the noble Lord is getting ahead of himself. The withdrawal agreement has been negotiated by the Government. We stand by that. The EU has made it clear that it is the only…16 May 2019HANSARDBrexit: Cross-party DiscussionsMy Lords, the Government and Opposition are continuing discussions to try to find a way forward on EU exit that could command a majority in Parliament and which would allow for…16 May 2019HANSARDBrexit: Cross-party DiscussionsAs ever, my noble friend speaks wisely on these matters. I agree that not implementing the result of the referendum would be disastrous for our democracy. It must seem to people…16 May 2019HANSARDBrexit: Cross-party DiscussionsAs I have responded to the noble Lord on this issue a number of times, let me repeat that we are not in favour of revoking Article 50 and we believe that any second referendum…16 May 2019HANSARDBrexit: Cross-party DiscussionsLike the Opposition, we want to respect the confidentiality of those talks. I am sure that when and if we reach an agreement, both sides will want to report back to Parliament in…16 May 2019