Sits in Lords for Brexit debate
leader Lord Hague warned that any attempt to derail Brexit would lead to the most “bitter, potentially endless conflict” seen in British society for decades.
He said: “As someone whose preference was to remain in the EU, my second preference – given that that is not available – is to leave it with some degree of unity and good order and confidence and determination.”
Former European Commissioner Lord Hill, breaking his silence since resigning from his Brussels post, reminded peers that the remaining 27 members of the EU do not want the process to be delayed further.
He said: “Getting 27 countries to agree a common position is going to be hard enough, but how can they be expected to negotiate if the British Government has to say that it cannot undertake to deliver what it has negotiated because the British Parliament or the British people might vote against some or all of the details at a later stage?
“That seems to be simply impossible from a practical point of view.”
The debate also saw a strong rearguard action from Remainer peers whose pensions could depend on Britain staying in the EU.
Former commissioner Lord Mandelson urged his fellow peers “not to throw in the towel” over Brexit.
The Government has set aside five days to discuss the Bill.
The Second Reading debate, in which peers discuss its general principles, is due to conclude tonight – possibly with a vote, but only if peers break with their usual practice of allowing Government legislation through unopposed at this stage. THE Prime Minister’s decision to sit in front of the royal throne in the Lords instantly became part of an uneasy history between the most senior minister of the Commons and the Upper House.
Sir Alec Douglas-Home in 1963 was the last PM to hold office while a member of the Lords, and since then visits by premiers to debates in the Upper House have been rare.
In 1990 John Major heard the maiden speech of former home secretary Lord Waddington, and David Cameron listened to tributes to Baroness Thatcher after she died in 2013.
But both are believed to have sat in the public gallery, in contrast to Mrs May’s prime position, to which she is entitled as a member of the Privy Council. To this day, all members of the Commons refer to the Lords as “the other place”.
Before Home, the last PM to run the Government from the Lords was the Marquess of Salisbury, who stepped down in 1900.