EU: Repatriation of Powers

Lord Campbell of Alloway Excerpts

Tuesday 14th December 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Tebbit]

My Lords—

[Lord Campbell of Alloway]

My Lords—

[Noble Lords]

This side.

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[Lord Tebbit]

My Lords—

[Lord Campbell of Alloway]

My Lords—

[Lord Dykes]

My Lords—

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[Lord Howell of Guildford]

As my noble friend is getting a bit personal, I shall say that I have always been a very enthusiastic European and advocate of sensible reform of and working with the European Union so that it goes forward in a constructive way. I do not deny that, in the past, some of the overload at the centre and the extensive acquisition of competences have tended to slow down the best kind of Europeanism. I believe that in our coalition—of which, I hasten to say, I am a very junior member—we are all united in wanting a European Union that is constructive, goes forward positively and meets the challenges of the 21st century. That is what we are all working for.

[Lord Campbell of Alloway]

My Lords, will my noble friend confirm that we retain our residual sovereignty and that the Lisbon treaty—

[Lord Stoddart of Swindon]

My Lords—