Of course—but the noble Lord will know well that the late Lord Hailsham described government as an elective dictatorship. I view what will happen as being very much more in the hands of the Government than of Parliament. I take the point that we are talking about Parliament rather than the Government. However, it is an entirely different matter when you give powers to people in the form of a referendum, because if you then take them back you are taking them from the people. That is different from all the other sunset clauses that we have in our legislation.
European Union Bill
Proceeding contribution from
Lord Hamilton of Epsom
(Conservative)
in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 25 May 2011.
It occurred during Committee of the Whole House (HL)
and
Debate on bills on European Union Bill.
About this proceeding contribution
Reference
727 c1837-8 Session
2010-12Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamberSubjects
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2023-12-15 16:13:19 +0000
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