United Kingdom and the European Union

Baroness Ludford Excerpts

Tuesday 8th September 2015 Lords Chamber

[The Earl of Courtown]

My noble friend is quite right. He has great experience in this area as well. To show our hand too early would not be conducive to help.

[Baroness Ludford (LD)]

Does the Minister agree that it was absurd of No. 10 to tell businesses to shut up about Europe on the ridiculous pretext that it would undermine the renegotiation? Does this not again demonstrate that the best strategy would be for the UK to lead a multilateral effort to reform the EU to enable it competently to tackle all those critical economic, security and humanitarian challenges that press in on us—an approach that would have a unifying, not divisive, effect?

[The Earl of Courtown]

My Lords, as far as the business community is concerned, both the CBI and the British Chambers of Commerce have supported my right honourable friend the Prime Minister’s proposals. On the other matter the noble Baroness raised, all other member states are being consulted on these issues.