EU: Future Relationship

Baroness Garden of Frognal Excerpts

Wednesday 20th May 2020 Lords Chamber

[Lord True]

My Lords, we have published a framework text to assist the negotiations on fisheries. It is based on precedent, but arrangements obviously will differ, as it is usual for those sorts of agreements to be tailored to the specific fisheries interests of the coastal states. That will be so in this case.

[The Deputy Speaker (Baroness Garden of Frognal) (LD)]

Lord Morris of Aberavon? He does not seem to be there so I will move on.

[Baroness Deech (CB)]

My Lords, I congratulate David Frost on reaching out to member states and remind him of the wise words of his late namesake, Sir David Frost, who said:

“Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your way.”


Will the Government encourage Mr Frost to stand up for British values for the benefit of this country, and not just to think about the economy?

I must raise the arbitrary dismissal of Eleanor Sharpston, the British advocate-general at the European Court of Justice. She was sent packing before her term ended, even though her post is not attached to UK membership. If you sack a member of the court, judicial independence is meaningless. This is not a court that we can remain subject to. I hope the Government will make representations on behalf of Eleanor Sharpston.

[Lord True]

I thank the noble Baroness for her comments. I cannot comment on individual cases but I note what she says. I reiterate that it is the intention of this Government that the ECJ will not have jurisdiction in the United Kingdom after the end of transition.

[The Deputy Speaker]

My Lords, I apologise to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Mackay, and the noble Lord, Lord West of Spithead, but the time allocated for the Statement is now up. The day’s Virtual Proceedings are complete and are adjourned.

Virtual Proceeding adjourned at 7.13 pm.