Brexit: Invocation of Article 50

Lord Watts Excerpts

Monday 19th December 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Goldie]

Both the Prime Minister and the Government have been clear that of course there is a role for Parliament in the process of exiting the EU. We are committed to extensive involvement by Parliament, which is already happening both in the other place and in this Chamber. It is important to underline that the Government will be mindful of all their legal and constitutional obligations in the process and will honour them in any future agreement with the EU.

[Lord Watts (Lab)]

My Lords, would it not have been a good idea for the British people to have understood the decision they were making before the referendum took place?

[Baroness Goldie]

My Lords, I have often wondered, particularly coming from Scotland as a Conservative, what motivated voters in their electoral instincts when casting votes at elections. In a democracy, we have to recognise and respect the right of individual voters to look at the issues, make their decision and come to a view. That collective view as expressed in the referendum places an obligation upon the Government to discharge that result.