Brexit: Declaration of Friendship

Lord Lamont of Lerwick Excerpts

Tuesday 14th March 2017 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Goldie]

My Lords, let me try to reassure my noble friend. I am absolutely certain that our negotiators, in conducting these vital and extremely important negotiations, will do so in the best traditions of relations amical, amistad und Freundschaft.

[Lord Lamont of Lerwick (Con)]

My Lords, does the Minister recall the wise words of the great Liberal politician, Richard Cobden, who once said:

“Free Trade is God’s diplomacy and there is no other certain way of uniting people in the bonds of peace”?


Is not the best thing we can do to show our everlasting friendship with Europe to advance the possibility of a comprehensive free trade agreement with Europe?

[Baroness Goldie]

I must thank my noble friend: it is certainly good to be reminded of a time when there were wise Liberals. I also thank him for his very pertinent question. I am sure that those issues will be to the forefront of our negotiators’ thoughts.