DARK DAYS IN THE HISTORY OF LORDS
After their FIFTEENTH vote to thwart Brexit, Tory peer excoriates Remainer colleagues who ‘used and abused’ second chamber
UNELECTED peers were last night slammed for bringing about dark days in the Lords after they defied ministers for the 15th time over Brexit.
Lord Framlingham, the former Commons deputy speaker, scolded peers for ‘using and abusing’ their positions to try to stop Britain leaving the European Union – saying it was ‘the House of Lords at its worst’.
In an excoriating speech in the Lords chamber, the Tory peer said history would not be kind to those ‘who continue to hinder the progress of this vital chapter in our country’s affairs’.
Defying jeers and heckles from Remainers on the red benches, Lord Framlingham argued: ‘Irreparable damage has already been done to our reputation by the antics of these dark days. To set ourselves up in such a disreputable way as guardians of wisdom and the common good when so many of the amendments we have passed have simply been attempts to wreck the bill and thwart the will of the people is both false and dangerous.’
His forthright speech came as peers voted by 294 to 244 for the maintenance of EU environmental principles and standards.
It is the 15th Lords defeat over the Government’s key Brexit legislation, the EU Withdrawal Bill.
Last week peers voted to keep Britain in the European Economic Area (EEA) – which would mean the country could not reclaim control of its border or stop large sums going to Brussels – and to remove March 2019 as the fixed Brexit date.
Senior Tories including former party leader Iain Duncan Smith called for Lords reform, warning there had to be a ‘reckoning’ if peers continued to try to thwart a clean Brexit.
Lord Framlingham yesterday accused colleagues of trying to thwart Brexit with their string of changes to the legislation. He said: ‘The days we have spent debating amendments to this Bill have been very dark days for your Lordships’ House. Without any doubt my Lords, these days will go down in history as the House of Lords at its worst.’
The peer, called Michael Lord before his ennoblement, said: ‘Some of whom have been elected to or worked in Parliament for many years have used and abused the gentle and forgiving system in your Lordships’ House to further their own ends, to stop us leaving the EU. I have watched and listened with growing concern and incredulity as people who should know better have put down and spoken to amendments, most of which have been technically out of order and nothing to do with the Bill before the House.’
Lord Framlingham, who served as Commons deputy speaker for 13 years until 2010, said peers had dismissed those who warned their reckless actions risked the Lords’ future. ‘ They have been derided and scoffed at, not because they were wrong, but because every word they said was true,’ he said.
‘The scoffers knew this in their hearts and simply could not bear to listen to the truth.
‘I’m sorry if the House thinks it understands what is happening outside in the world, it is a grave mistake. My Lords this is the most important political issue in which any of us will ever play a part. Our speeches and votes will be on record. I do not believe history will be very kind to those who continue to hinder the progress of this vital chapter in our country’s affairs.’
Peers shouted ‘shame’ and ‘rubbish’ as Lord Framlingham spoke. His Tory colleague Lord Cormack told him: ‘If anybody is doing damage to the reputation of this House it is you.’ But the peer replied: ‘I believe I am speaking up for this House and for the country.’
IT’S TIME TO PULL PLUG ON THE LORDS