Council of the European Union: United Kingdom Presidency Debate

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Department: Department for Exiting the European Union

Council of the European Union: United Kingdom Presidency

Lord Marlesford Excerpts
Wednesday 20th July 2016

(7 years, 9 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Bridges of Headley Portrait Lord Bridges of Headley
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I have to say that a number of discussions have taken place informally across Europe, culminating in the conversation that my right honourable friend the Prime Minister had last night. It was a culmination of discussions and consideration.

Lord Marlesford Portrait Lord Marlesford (Con)
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My Lords, can my noble friend explain why the noble Lord, Lord Hill, left his post as Commissioner—thereby, as I understand it, depriving us of holding a crucial financial portfolio?

Lord Bridges of Headley Portrait Lord Bridges of Headley
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I think that that was a decision taken by the noble Lord, Lord Hill, and I shall leave it to him to explain it. We have now replaced the noble Lord and I am looking to the future, not always to the past. We have replaced the noble Lord, Lord Hill, with an extremely experienced diplomat, Sir Julian King.