To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 23 June (HC10645), whether their position that there will be no return to the European Union Customs Union includes a policy of not joining the Customs Union in part for certain goods...

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 23 June (HC10645), whether their position that there will be no return to the European Union Customs Union includes a policy of not joining the Customs Union in part for certain goods...

I am not sure if the Prime Minister completely ruled out further cuts to the international aid programme. With defence chiefs this week writing to The Times to say that cutting aid for defence is a mistake, I hope that the Prime Minister and his Ministers will rule that out today. If he does not, I hope that Labour party members will ask all the Labour leadership candidates their position on the future of Britain’s aid programme.

In the past few days, two of those Labour leadership candidates—the right hon. Member for Ilford North (Wes Streeting) and the Mayor of Greater Manchester—have ruled out any support for Britain joining the EU customs union, despite the fact that it would boost growth and help cut the cost of living. Is the Prime Minister relieved that he finally has something that he can agree with his colleagues on?

I am not sure if the Prime Minister completely ruled out further cuts to the international aid programme. With defence chiefs this week writing to The Times to say that cutting aid for defence is a mistake, I hope that the Prime Minister and his Ministers will rule that out today. If he does not, I hope that Labour party members will ask all the Labour leadership candidates their position on the future of Britain’s aid programme.

In the past few days, two of those Labour leadership candidates—the right hon. Member for Ilford North (Wes Streeting) and the Mayor of Greater Manchester—have ruled out any support for Britain joining the EU customs union, despite the fact that it would boost growth and help cut the cost of living. Is the Prime Minister relieved that he finally has something that he can agree with his colleagues on?

In the last two years, I have been negotiating serious trade deals that are vital for the most important sectors of our economy. These are trade deals with the EU, but also with India, North Korea and the United States. I remind the right hon. Gentleman of the value of those deals. Before the deal with the United States, I went to Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull and talked to the workforce. They were worried sick about their jobs and communities. When we agreed terms, I went back to JLR—because of the deal we got with the EU, thousands of their jobs were safeguarded. The right hon. Gentleman’s approach would throw all that away. He would have to go and see those workforces and tell them that their jobs are gone. I am not going to do that.

In the last two years, I have been negotiating serious trade deals that are vital for the most important sectors of our economy. These are trade deals with the EU, but also with India, North Korea and the United States. I remind the right hon. Gentleman of the value of those deals. Before the deal with the United States, I went to Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull and talked to the workforce. They were worried sick about their jobs and communities. When we agreed terms, I went back to JLR—because of the deal we got with the EU, thousands of their jobs were safeguarded. The right hon. Gentleman’s approach would throw all that away. He would have to go and see those workforces and tell them that their jobs are gone. I am not going to do that.

Letter dated 12/02/2026 from Baroness Anderson of Stokc-on-Trent to Peers regarding questions raised during the UK-EU customs Union debate: call for evidence on UK accession to the Regional Convention on Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Preferential Rules of Origin, commentary on negotiations, future agreements with the EU and specific clauses, and assessment of the EU's trade deal with India. 2p.

Letter dated 12/02/2026 from Baroness Anderson of Stokc-on-Trent to Peers regarding questions raised during the UK-EU customs Union debate: call for evidence on UK accession to the Regional Convention on Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Preferential Rules of Origin, commentary on negotiations, future agreements with the EU and specific clauses, and assessment of the...

Lords motions to take note of the case for a UK-EU customs union and the impact of connections with the EU single market on the United Kingdom economy. Agreed to on question.

Lords motions to take note of the case for a UK-EU customs union and the impact of connections with the EU single market on the United Kingdom economy. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to introduce this debate. It will see a number of comings and goings. We welcome the noble Lords, Lord Doyle, Lord Docherty and Lord Pitt-Watson, and the noble Baroness, Lady Gill, and say farewell to the noble Lord, Lord Offord. For the noble...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to introduce this debate. It will see a number of comings and goings. We welcome the noble Lords, Lord Doyle, Lord Docherty and Lord Pitt-Watson, and the noble Baroness, Lady Gill, and say farewell to the noble Lord, Lord Offord. For the noble...

My Lords, I rise with some hesitation and a great deal of gratitude to make my maiden speech in your Lordships’ House. I am acutely aware of the experience, independence of mind, and breadth and depth of knowledge that surrounds me.

Last Tuesday was a sublime experience for me and my...

My Lords, I rise with some hesitation and a great deal of gratitude to make my maiden speech in your Lordships’ House. I am acutely aware of the experience, independence of mind, and breadth and depth of knowledge that surrounds me.

Last Tuesday was a sublime experience for me and my...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Gill, for that absolutely excellent speech, revealing her rich experience in many areas across both the European Union and localities in the UK.

She has already made one significant mark on our work: I was not aware that you could have two...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Gill, for that absolutely excellent speech, revealing her rich experience in many areas across both the European Union and localities in the UK.

She has already made one significant mark on our work: I was not aware that you could have two...

I finish with an appeal to the other side to open their minds and maybe open their hearts a little bit, recognise the situation we are now in, not the situation we were in, and take the country forward on that basis.

1.01 pm

I finish with an appeal to the other side to open their minds and maybe open their hearts a little bit, recognise the situation we are now in, not the situation we were in, and take the country forward on that basis.

1.01 pm

My Lords, it is a great pleasure for me on behalf of these Benches, this side of the House, to congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Gill, on her admirable maiden speech. She referred to feeling a little intimidated coming here and to the experience and depth of knowledge in this...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure for me on behalf of these Benches, this side of the House, to congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Gill, on her admirable maiden speech. She referred to feeling a little intimidated coming here and to the experience and depth of knowledge in this...

I am just finishing—is now pleading for exclusion from any steps towards alignment. The Liberals claim a customs union would boost government revenues. They have suddenly become followers of Donald Trump, believing that “tariff” is

the most beautiful word in the English language, but a customs union would mean that...

I am just finishing—is now pleading for exclusion from any steps towards alignment. The Liberals claim a customs union would boost government revenues. They have suddenly become followers of Donald Trump, believing that “tariff” is

the most beautiful word in the English language, but a customs union would mean that...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Newby, is surely to be congratulated on his timely choice of topic. The hard fact is that both this House and the other place will be debating how to remedy the lamentable post-Brexit deal struck in 2019 for the foreseeable future. I welcome most...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Newby, is surely to be congratulated on his timely choice of topic. The hard fact is that both this House and the other place will be debating how to remedy the lamentable post-Brexit deal struck in 2019 for the foreseeable future. I welcome most...

My Lords, I begin by thanking Black Rod, Garter, the clerk, the doorkeepers and all the staff of this House for the kindness that they have shown me since joining. I thank noble Lords from every side who have, without exception, made me feel so welcome. I thank my supporters—my...

My Lords, I begin by thanking Black Rod, Garter, the clerk, the doorkeepers and all the staff of this House for the kindness that they have shown me since joining. I thank noble Lords from every side who have, without exception, made me feel so welcome. I thank my supporters—my...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Docherty of Milngavie, to congratulate him on his excellent and witty speech and to welcome him to your Lordships’ House, where he will no longer have to depend on the votes of his opponents or anybody else...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Docherty of Milngavie, to congratulate him on his excellent and witty speech and to welcome him to your Lordships’ House, where he will no longer have to depend on the votes of his opponents or anybody else...

My Lords, having listened to the noble Lord, Lord Lilley, in the past, I am sure noble Lords will accept that I do not agree with much of what he said. The context in which we are discussing this is, to me, the obvious failure of the Brexit project. I...

My Lords, having listened to the noble Lord, Lord Lilley, in the past, I am sure noble Lords will accept that I do not agree with much of what he said. The context in which we are discussing this is, to me, the obvious failure of the Brexit project. I...

My Lords, I rise for my maiden speech with a real sense of the responsibility that comes with joining a body so rich in experience, expertise and public service as your Lordships’ House. I thank Black Rod, the indefatigable doorkeepers, the police and security officers, the clerks and officials and...

My Lords, I rise for my maiden speech with a real sense of the responsibility that comes with joining a body so rich in experience, expertise and public service as your Lordships’ House. I thank Black Rod, the indefatigable doorkeepers, the police and security officers, the clerks and officials and...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to welcome my new colleagues who are making their maiden speeches today—my noble friends Lady Gill and Lord Docherty, my good friend who is to come later, and my noble friend Lord Doyle, who is a very close friend and from whom we...

My Lords, it is a great pleasure to welcome my new colleagues who are making their maiden speeches today—my noble friends Lady Gill and Lord Docherty, my good friend who is to come later, and my noble friend Lord Doyle, who is a very close friend and from whom we...

In fact, it was jointly negotiated by member states and the European Commission. I was there for all nine days of the negotiations in the Heysel stadium, so the noble Lord is wrong.

In fact, it was jointly negotiated by member states and the European Commission. I was there for all nine days of the negotiations in the Heysel stadium, so the noble Lord is wrong.

Do you know why we won the Uruguay round? It is because we had the strength of the bloc of the European Union behind us. It was not just something that Britain achieved on its own.

Secondly, the noble Lord talks about the stagnation in our export of goods and completely...

Do you know why we won the Uruguay round? It is because we had the strength of the bloc of the European Union behind us. It was not just something that Britain achieved on its own.

Secondly, the noble Lord talks about the stagnation in our export of goods and completely...

My Lords, I warmly congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Gill, and the noble Lords, Lord Docherty and Lord Doyle, on their excellent maiden speeches. I look forward to that yet to be made, and to the valedictory speech of the noble Lord, Lord Offord.

Under a customs union, the EU would...

My Lords, I warmly congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Gill, and the noble Lords, Lord Docherty and Lord Doyle, on their excellent maiden speeches. I look forward to that yet to be made, and to the valedictory speech of the noble Lord, Lord Offord.

Under a customs union, the EU would...