Member News
A watered-down European Union Bill has passed its third reading in the Lords, however the government will be likely to try and overturn defeats when the bill comes to the Commons.
The legislation introduces a "referendum lock" designed to prevent any further surrender of power from Westminster to Brussels.
The upper chamber voted by a majority of six to "sunset" the provisions of the legislation, which would expire it after the next general election unless a future government chooses to revive it.
The Lords voted by a majority of four to restrict the issues on which referendums are held.
Former UKIP leader Lord Pearson of Rannoch accused the upper chamber of denying voters a "meaningful" referendum on Europe.
He told peers the changes "emasculate the Bill entirely and deny the British people any chance of a meaningful referendum on our relationship with the failing project of European integration, which they do not like".
Lord Pearson added: "Those amendments were largely proposed by Lords in receipt of a forfeitable EU pension, most of them undeclared, and they were all carried by the votes of Lords who did not declare their interests."
Labour's frontbench spokesman Lord Liddle noted that the Bill was leaving the House "very different" to how it had arrived and hoped the Commons would acknowledge the broad consensus that the "Bill is badly flawed".
Foreign Office minister Lord Howell of Guildford said he was tempted to engage in debate with the UKIP peer on his "grand case against not only the entire bill but the entire policy and the commitment of this country to be a positive force in Europe", but would decline to do so because third reading was supposed to be a formal reading.
He said that Lord Pearson’s views were "defeatist" and "belonging to the last century".
The minister concluded: "It is true that some amendments have been made which we were unable to support and I have no doubt the Commons will consider those provisions carefully.
"The thrust and aims of this Bill are clear and the intentions are clear, despite some of the amendments that would water it down."
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.