Euro: Support for Joining

Lord Lawson of Blaby Excerpts

Monday 9th May 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Ashton of Hyde]

My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord: there are many things apart from the economics of the situation. Security and safety against terrorism, the science base and many other things, not least our position in the world order, depend on our being in the EU.

[Lord Lawson of Blaby (Con)]

My Lords, will my noble friend confirm that he is not too young to recall that in January 1989, when I was still Chancellor of the Exchequer, I made a speech spelling out why the euro—monetary union—would be a disaster, why we should not join it and why the European Union would be foolish to go ahead? Perhaps he can set the record right against those who are clearly too young to recall the past.

[Lord Ashton of Hyde]

My Lords, I do not remember every speech that my noble friend made, but in many cases he was very wise.