European Union Bill

Ian Swales Excerpts

Monday 11th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Lidington]

My hon. Friend has put matters on the record. I am content to take the arguments and reasons given by Members of the House of Lords as justification for the amendments in which they believed.

[Ian Swales (Redcar) (LD)]

Does the Minister agree that if we accept the amendment, we are setting up a perverse incentive for the Government of the day to seek a low turnout if they wish to get a measure through? That might affect the way they publicise a referendum or engage with the process.

[Mr Lidington]

That puts it fairly. The perverse incentive to seek an apathetic reaction from the electorate is one that I would want to avoid.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr David]

No, I do not think that that is the case. One thing that has come across clearly in the debates in this House is the sovereignty of Parliament. We are talking about the sovereignty of Parliament in a dualist system, but Parliament nevertheless has the right to determine what legislation has primacy over the people of this country. The ultimate decision rests with this country.

[Ian Swales]

The sovereignty of Parliament is obviously absolutely key. If we passed the sunset clause, sovereignty would in effect pass to the next Government, not the next Parliament. As the hon. Member for Luton North (Kelvin Hopkins) said, a future Parliament has the power to change this legislation. The sunset clause would pass that power to the Government, not to Parliament.

[Mr David]

No, it would not pass to the Government, because we are talking about Parliament itself deciding. In our electoral system, it is the Executive who are accountable to Parliament. We are talking about parliamentary sovereignty.