EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement

Lord Singh of Wimbledon Excerpts

Friday 8th January 2021 Lords Chamber

[Lord Singh of Wimbledon (CB) [V]]

My Lords, the Sikh religion, formed at a time of religious and regional conflict, emphasises the equality and interdependence of all humanity. Today, with new concerns about global warming and climate change, closer co-operation with those we once viewed with suspicion is more important than ever. Boasts that we have secured freedom from foreign influence and have taken back control of our money, borders, laws, trade and waters simply remind me of the dated hype of Shakespeare’s John of Gaunt:

“This happy breed of men, this little world … this earth, this realm, this England.”


However, I congratulate the Government on keeping some of the benefits, such as tariff-free trade, of a club that we have now left. Does the Minister agree that, from our position of independence, we should now look to even greater and closer co-operation with Europe and others for the benefit of all in our inter-dependent world?