Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 21 October 2020

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs

Brexit Negotiations: Members of the House of Lords

Lord Oates:

I am a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords. As members are aware, the Liberal Democrats have been a pro-European and anti-Brexit party but I endorse the comments of my colleagues that this is no longer an issue about Brexit but it is about rule of law and the reputation of the UK. Speaking personally, there is absolutely no doubt about the breach of international law. I note even that Lord Keen subsequently resigned from that position. We take it extremely seriously and I share the view of the majority of my colleagues, which is that in its current form, this Bill will not go through the House of Lords. We hope the Government will see that sooner rather than later and will remove the relevant part.