Brexit: Article 50

Lord Taylor of Holbeach Excerpts

Monday 7th November 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Campbell of Pittenweem (LD)]

My Lords—

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach (Con)]

My Lords, we have not heard from the Lib Dem Benches.

[Lord Campbell of Pittenweem]

My Lords, we all believe in the freedom of the press and in the independence of the judiciary. But I doubt very much whether there is a single one of your Lordships who does not believe in the supremacy and sovereignty of Parliament. The decision made by the High Court judges underlines and ensures the application of that doctrine. Why, in the four corners of this Statement, is there no reference to the sovereignty of Parliament?

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Davies of Stamford (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

We really should try to go round the House. It is the Labour Party’s turn.

[Baroness Royall of Blaisdon]

My Lords, the Minister rightly celebrates the independence of the judiciary. However, my noble and learned friend Lord Falconer asked him to condemn the words of Sajid Javid, who by his words undermined what the Minister is saying. What the right honourable Minister said was completely unacceptable; indeed, those words corrode the very democracy that the noble Lord seeks to uphold. Please will he condemn the words of the right honourable Sajid Javid?