‘Dark days’ as peers revolt again over Europe votes

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, 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, 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 speech came as peers voted 294 to 244 for the maintenance of EU environmental principles and standards. It was the 15th Lords defeat over the EU Withdrawal Bill.

Lord Framlingham accused his colleagues of trying to thwart Brexit. He said: ‘The days we have spent debating amendments to this Bill have been very dark days for your Lordships’ House. Without any doubt, these days will go down in history as the House of Lords at its worst.’

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.’

‘The Lords at its worst’

AS unelected peers vote for the 15th time to keep Britain shackled to the EU, these are dark days indeed in the history of the Lords.

Don’t take the Mail’s word for it. This was the excoriating verdict of Lord Framlingham, former Deputy Speaker of the Commons, who accused fellow peers of showing themselves at their ‘disreputable’ worst in their attempts to thwart the people’s vote for Brexit.

Coming after the Upper House sought for the second time to overturn MPs’ refusal to reopen the Leveson Inquiry, in keeping with a Tory manifesto pledge, this marvellous speech was a timely reminder of how far peers have overstepped themselves.

The Mail repeats: the Lords surely cannot survive in its present form.