European Council

Peter Bone Excerpts
Tuesday 19th March 2013

(11 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Swire Portrait Mr Swire
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The hon. Lady makes some extraordinarily good points on the sanctions against Zimbabwe. I was not aware that the matter was not on the European Council agenda. I was not privy to any private conversations that might have taken place, but she has made some extremely pertinent points.

Peter Bone Portrait Mr Peter Bone (Wellingborough) (Con)
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At business questions last Thursday, the Leader of the House started by saying that, on Monday 18 March,

“I expect my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to make a statement following the European Council.”—[Official Report, 14 March 2013; Vol. 560, c. 494.]

We know that the Prime Minister was here on Monday, and it is absolutely unacceptable that he has not come to the House to report on the European Council. Will the Minister at least confirm to the House that he himself was present at the Council?

Lord Swire Portrait Mr Swire
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I am not the Prime Minister and, unlike other people in this House, I have never thought that I should be or would be. I was not present at the European Council, no.