Brexit: Petition to Revoke Article 50 Notification

Debate between Lord Callanan and Lord Roberts of Llandudno

Tuesday 26th March 2019 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan]

No doubt my noble friend is an avid follower of social media and will therefore have seen some doubt being cast on some of the signatories, but I do not doubt that the vast majority were indeed British citizens.

[Lord Roberts of Llandudno (LD)]

Does the Minister realise that there is more than one online petition? The one to revoke has brought in nearly 6 million signatures, but the one to leave has brought in 570,000 signatures. Should we not now respond to the recent will of the people?

[Lord Callanan]

As I said earlier in response to the noble Baroness, Lady Quin, in this country we do not have government by online poll; we have government by the ballot box and by this Parliament, and that is what we will be following.

Brexit: Legislative Timetable

Debate between Lord Callanan and Lord Roberts of Llandudno

Monday 7th January 2019 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan]

I will not advise the noble Lord and others what amendments can be acceptable. That is not my role. There are a number of pieces of primary legislation still before this House and, if we are in a no-deal situation, further pieces of primary legislation will be forthcoming.

[Lord Roberts of Llandudno (LD)]

My Lords, is the Minister convinced that all this legislation can be carried through Parliament in the 40 working days we have left? How on earth will he manage that?

[Lord Callanan]

Of course, it will be a challenge, but I am sure all Members of this House want to see us leave the European Union in a smooth and orderly manner, which requires the appropriate legislation to be put in place.

Brexit: EU Citizenship

Debate between Lord Callanan and Lord Roberts of Llandudno

Monday 11th December 2017 Lords Chamber

[Lord Callanan]

I think that that is because they have Romanian passports. Romania is an EU member state and takes those obligations accordingly. As I said, it is very difficult to see how the treaties would be changed to enable this to happen. I am aware of the proposal from the European Parliament. We are not against the idea—we would be happy to consider it—but I think that there is very little chance of it happening.

[Lord Roberts of Llandudno (LD)]

My Lords, I am very proud that I was born Welsh, and I am very proud that I was born British as well. By what right can the Government or anybody else deny those who are born after we joined the European Union of their citizenship in Europe? How can we deny it to them?

[Lord Callanan]

Because, my Lords, we had a referendum on the subject of leaving the European Union and the people of the United Kingdom—and, indeed, the people of Wales—voted to leave.