"This is the record on Europe that most of us will recall; it is not the fantasy of some, who see Europe as an object of almost theological insistence...." Richard Shepherd - View Speech
"Indeed, and I took an intervention from the right hon. Gentleman, if he remembers. However, I have listened to the argument, and it is the same argument that he makes most of the time. Although repetition does inform one, it sometimes becomes like a woodpecker on the brain. [Interruption. …..." Richard Shepherd - View Speech
"I do not accept the argument, because there are very few international agreements that apply in a directly legislative way in this country. Therefore, on a great range of matters we have to put things through this House; therefore, they are governed by the processes of this House. Normally they …..." Richard Shepherd - View Speech
"I believe so, because there is a matter of the most profound trust involved. When Ministers speak at the Dispatch Box, we trust that they are telling the truth. That is one of the rules and we must hold them to it—[Interruption.] No, that is a convention …..." Richard Shepherd - View Speech
"As I understand it, the European Union purports to be a country now. That change of title happened following Maastricht. We became citizens of the Union, also under Maastricht. Those issues were fiercely fought over. The question of whether Her Majesty the Queen was a citizen of Europe arose on …..." Richard Shepherd - View Speech
"That is the argument, and I am glad that it was so briskly conveyed. On that note, I urge the House to support the new clause. ..." Richard Shepherd - View Speech
"Does the right hon. Gentleman not give any weight to what the German constitutional court said in respect of democracy—that it lies not in the institutions of the European Union or its Parliament, but in those of the national state?..." Richard Shepherd - View Speech
"I applaud the Minister’s aspirational words, but those of us who have been here as long as he has have heard them said so many times. It is an old song, and yet nothing is ever resolved on the issue. Why is he confident that action will now follow those …..." Richard Shepherd - View Speech
"At the end of that roaring speech, I am not sure whether the hon. Member for Bassetlaw (John Mann) is for or against the new clause. I shall just reflect because, for some of us, this is an important debate. Even the recent history of the Labour party seems to …..." Richard Shepherd - View Speech