Business of the House

Lord Strasburger Excerpts

Thursday 4th April 2019 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Noakes]

Benches opposite may laugh, but that is highly disrespectful to a Prime Minister who has worked extremely hard on this. The Prime Minister can be criticised for many things—

[Lord Strasburger (LD)]

I remind the House that this is the Prime Minister who told the nation seven times that she was not going to call a snap election—and the eighth time, she said she was.

[Baroness Noakes]

I am not entirely uncritical of the Prime Minister, and in particular of her handling of Brexit. Anybody who has heard me speak before will know that.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Lilley]

On the contrary, the noble Baroness is rather forgetful, because I noted down the five points she made about what would happen if we did leave with no deal. They were about citizens’ rights, tariffs and industry; I have forgotten the other two.

[Lord Strasburger]

I wonder whether the noble Lord has completed his remarks on the amendment. If so, will he please sit down?

[Lord Lilley]

No, but when I have I certainly shall. I am trying to get on because I want to deal with the central argument that was put forward by the noble Baroness, Lady Hayter: namely, that it would be a disaster if we do not get this legislation through because of the amendments that we are now considering and if we leave with no deal on WTO terms. I maintain that it would not be a disaster. What would be a disaster would be denying democracy—

--- Later in debate ---

Moved by

[Lord Strasburger]

That the Question be now put.

[Lord Strasburger]

I think we have heard enough, have we not? I move that the Question be now put.

[The Deputy Speaker (Lord Lexden) (Con)]

My Lords, you are now familiar with these words but I must read them again in accordance with the procedures of the House. I am instructed by order of the House to say that the Motion that the Question be now put is considered to be a most exceptional procedure and the House will not accept it save in circumstances where it is felt to be the only means of ensuring the proper conduct of the business of the House. Further, if a Member who seeks to move it persists in his intention, the practice of the House is that the Question on the Motion is put without debate. Does the noble Lord still wish to move the closure?

[Lord Strasburger]

Yes.