Lords accuse MPS of constitutional vandalism by ‘defying’ referendum
Remainers risk possibility of uprising with delaying tactics that destroy trust in Parliament, says Lawson
BREXITEER Tory peers warned Remain-backing MPS they risked the possibility of a violent uprising by voters if they “refused” to accept the result of the 2016 EU referendum.
Lord Lawson, the former chancellor, said there was a danger of a “very ugly situation” arising because “insurrectionary forces” could be left feeling “they cannot trust Parliament”.
The Tory grandee was one of many senior figures to take aim at the House of Commons for rushing through a draft law that would force Theresa May to request a Brexit delay.
The Bill, brought forward by Yvette Cooper and Sir Oliver Letwin, was agreed by MPS by just one vote on Wednesday evening and yesterday the legislation was presented to the House of Lords.
The architects of the Bill want it to become law by the start of next week but numerous peers appeared to try to delay its passage as they accused MPS of trying to “tear up the constitution” after seizing control of business in the Commons.
Lord Lawson said: “This is a most appalling day. I have served in Parliament for 45 years and there has never been an instance of constitutional vandalism of the scale that we are witnessing today and we are witnessing at the present time more generally.”
He said he had “long been concerned” that the UK does not have a written constitution and relied instead on “respect for the procedures of Parliament”.
“We pay a price for not having a written constitution,” he said. “We pay a price for having had this reasonably trouble-free history… and that price has become evident today and in recent days.”
He added: “I think that there is a real danger that undesirable, but very often understandable insurrectionary forces will feel they cannot trust the British Parliament, they cannot trust the British constitution and a very ugly situation could well arise.”
Lord Forsyth, a Tory former Scottish secretary, said a “revolutionary action” had taken place in the Commons.
Lord Howard, the former Conservative leader, warned MPS they had set a dangerous precedent by taking control of the Commons to pass their own legislation.
“It will set a precedent which may be followed in circumstances which would have a much more dire effect on our liberties than the issues which we are debating and discussing today,” he said.
Peers felt under pressure to pass the Bill in one day like the Commons. They passed the second reading of the Bill on the nod last night. Its third reading is scheduled for Monday.
Eurosceptic lords described the timetabling of the Bill as “crazy” but their decision to bring forward numerous amendments and contest a series of votes prompted accusations of “filibustering”.
The Bill would force the Prime Minister to set out a proposed Brexit extension date that MPS would then have to agree before she goes to Brussels on Wednesday for an emergency EU summit. However, if the EU offered a different proposed date, the Bill would also require Mrs May to then secure the agreement of MPS.
Downing Street said the Bill would therefore place a “severe constraint” on the Prime Minister’s ability to negotiate and could “increase the risk of an accidental no-deal exit” on April 12.
Ms Cooper thanked peers who are supporting her Bill.
She said: “These are unprecedented circumstances with the threat of no deal just a week away, and so it’s welcome that people on all sides are working together to get a common-sense safeguard in place.
“I hope the Prime Minister will feel able to support the Bill.”