Brexit: Declaration of Friendship

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock Excerpts

Tuesday 14th March 2017 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Goldie]

I have no pretensions to architectural expertise and I hesitate to venture an opinion. What is clear is that during the negotiations we will not only seek to do whatever we can to get the best possible deal for the United Kingdom but, equally importantly, set out the parameters for our future relationship with the EU. I do not agree with the noble Lord’s dismissal of the argument that we will leave the EU but remain in Europe. I do not think that that is a platitude; it is a self-evident truth.

[Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Lab)]

My Lords, would the Minister consider sending one of these declarations of friendship and intent to the Scottish Parliament?

[Baroness Goldie]

I say to the noble Lord that if I were to articulate the words that instinctively come to my lips about the First Minister of Scotland, they would not constitute parliamentary language.