Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Bill

Debate between Lord Green of Deddington and Lord Bruce of Bennachie

Ping Pong (Hansard): House of Lords
Monday 22nd July 2019 Lords Chamber

[Lord Bruce of Bennachie (LD)]

My Lords, on same-sex marriage and abortion, the reality is that this House was implementing the express will of the Commons and improving the workability of those amendments. This issue has come from the Commons in response to an amendment that we passed back to them. I echo the noble Baroness in saying that to suggest that this has nothing to do with the people of Northern Ireland could not be further from the truth. A no-deal Brexit would be disastrous for Britain and catastrophic for Ireland, so we have every reason to support the amendment and reject the Minister’s amendment to it.

[Lord Green of Deddington (CB)]

My Lords, what lies behind this issue is whether a future Prime Minister will have a credible threat of no deal. I do not want no deal, but I believe that, unless he has that threat, he will do no better than his predecessor.