Lord Dykes
Main Page: Lord Dykes (Crossbench - Life peer)
Lord Dykes
To ask Her Majesty's Government what statement on Brexit they will present to the next meeting of heads of state or government of the European Union.
Baroness Goldie (Con)
My Lords, our position has always been the same. We want to get a deal, as soon as possible, agreed in the autumn. We will continue to work constructively and intensively, together with the EU, to make this happen. Some 95% of the withdrawal agreement is now agreed, with 5% still outstanding on the issue of the backstop. We also have broad agreement on the structure and scope of the future relationship.
Lord Dykes (CB)
My Lords, I quote:
“The UK is making a spectacular demonstration of how to make a fool of yourself with the entire world looking on”.
Those are the wise words of a leading European journalist writing in the UK press on 6 November. Armed as they are also by the wise words of Jo Johnson, does the Minister not yet grasp the reality that the Government are leading this great country to an unforgettable disaster?
Baroness Goldie
I profoundly disagree with the noble Lord. Against repeated challenges throughout the last two years, the Government have been able consistently to produce evidence of good progress. The 95% to which I referred is not imaginary. A number of your Lordships attended the briefing meeting for Peers last week; it was a very constructive discussion at which we looked at the recent White Paper, and that is a most substantive document. The Government have shown determination and conviction and are straining every fibre with the EU to get an agreement.