All 1 Debates between Lord Dobbs and Lord Blencathra

European Union Referendum Bill

Debate between Lord Dobbs and Lord Blencathra
Monday 2nd November 2015

(9 years, 1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Blencathra Portrait Lord Blencathra
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Absolutely. I saw that and one must distinguish between US political talk and UK factual reality.

Lord Dobbs Portrait Lord Dobbs
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Does my noble friend not agree that officials and bureaucrats are there to do as they are instructed by their political masters, not to lay down the rules for everybody else?

Lord Blencathra Portrait Lord Blencathra
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I have to agree with my noble friend. The United States will do what is in the financial interests of the United States and its companies. It may talk tough about not doing a trade deal with the sixth largest nation on earth—the United Kingdom—but, when it comes to pounds, shillings, pence and dollars, the Americans will trade when it is in their financial interest to do so.