EU: UK Membership

Lord Reid of Cardowan Excerpts

Monday 11th February 2013 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

I do not agree with that particular approach. European markets count for under half of UK exports of goods and services. Seven of the UK’s top trading partners are EU member states.

[Lord Reid of Cardowan]

My Lords, multiple hypotheticals and transient variables seem the very essence of the Government’s policy on Europe. Avoiding those, will the Minister answer a factual question? When last year, in the middle of the eurozone crisis, I asked the Government whether there was not an approaching fork in the road, and whether they would envisage the possibility of a two-speed, or multi-speed, Europe, I was told that the Government did not envisage that under any circumstances. What happened to change their mind?

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

The answer to the noble Lord’s question is that we are fully focused on staying within the EU. We do not see a two-tier Europe coming forward.