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Proceeding contribution from Mike Gapes (Labour) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 25 January 2011. It occurred during Debate on bill and Committee of the Whole House (HC) on European Union Bill.


European Union Bill

I was about to seek your advice, Mr Caton. I would love to become involved in a debate on the merits of European co-operation and a new Bretton Woods, and numerous other such issues, but I do not think that they are covered by clause 6. The questions with which the Bill confronts us are ““Is it necessary?””, ““Does it do what it says on the tin?””, and ““What will be the effects of it and, in particular, of the amendments and clause 6 if they become law?”” In my opinion, either this is a recipe for litigation and a lawyers' paradise, as others have said both on Second Reading and today, or it is irrelevant. Indeed, it may be both: it may be irrelevant in essence, but may none the less serve as a mechanism enabling people to opt for judicial reviews and litigation when referendums are not proposed on certain aspects of decisions made in the European Union and the Council of Ministers. We are experiencing a difficult period in this country. Very few politicians have had the courage to stand up to the Murdoch press and the Eurosceptic media, and the capitulation of the Liberal Democrats over the last few months, as they have changed their previous approach to the one to which they have signed up in the coalition, further weakens the voice of pro-European people in the country.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
522 c204-5 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Crime Administration of justice Common fisheries policy Crown dependencies British overseas territories Fisheries EU law Electoral Commission European communities Gibraltar Economic situation EU action Economic and monetary union Northern Ireland Prosecutions Referendums Loans Peers Scotland Sovereignty Republic of Ireland Treaties Security Reform Wales UK membership of EU European financial stabilisation mechanism
Legislation
European Union Bill 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk