United Kingdom and the European Union

Lord Garel-Jones Excerpts

Tuesday 8th September 2015 Lords Chamber

[The Earl of Courtown]

My Lords, the first phase of the work requires just these technical discussions. This is the start of the process. These discussions should be led by substance, not schedule. I quite understand the points made by the noble Lord, with all his experience of the trade union movement, but we are not going to show our hand and give our position away to other members.

[Lord Garel-Jones (Con)]

Does my noble friend the Minister agree that few things could be more damaging to Britain’s negotiating position than to go beyond the broad areas that he has just pointed out and to go into the fine detail referred to by the noble Lord?

[The Earl of Courtown]

My noble friend is quite right. He has great experience in this area as well. To show our hand too early would not be conducive to help.