,
Labour’s Shadow Solicitor General, reacting to the comments made by
the Attorney General on the government’s willingness to break
international law, said:
“The Attorney General has demonstrated today that she has
prioritised the political priorities of the government over
upholding the rule of law in order to stay in office.
“The role of the government’s law officers is clear, they must
uphold the rule of law – without fear or favour, and what we have
seen today is confirmation that there is no voice in this
government to defend the rule of law.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
In Attorney General Questions this morning, Ellie Reeves, Shadow
Solicitor General asked:
Ellie Reeves, Shadow Solicitor General:
“With the Internal Markets Bill, the last five former Prime
Ministers of the UK have all shared their concern at the
Government’s intention to break international law.
“The Northern Ireland Secretary said the Government anticipated
breaking the law in ‘specific and limited ways’. And even her own
predecessor said that the Government’s intention to break the
law, is "unconscionable", and will greatly damage Britain's
international reputation.
“So I ask the Attorney General today: Are they all wrong?”
, Attorney General:
“The question of whether in law the Govt can act in this way –is
very simply answered- yes it can.
“The question of whether it should is one for political debate,
but not one for legal argument.
“It is one founded on robust legal footing, i.e. the supremacy of
parliament illucidinated by diacy and confirmed by a unanimous
supreme court in Milan.
Ellie Reeves, Shadow Solicitor General:
“I’ve listened to what the Attorney General has had to say, but
as a barrister, she knows full well the role of the government’s
law officers. They must uphold the rule of law – without fear or
favour.
“And as her own political hero Margaret Thatcher once said; “In
order to be considered truly free, countries must have an abiding
respect for the rule of law”.
“Yet there is a universal view amongst those who look to the
Attorney General to defend the rule of law that she has betrayed
them. So, so could she tell the house what she has done to defend
the rule of law in the face of the government’s breach?”
, Attorney General:
“I prefer to take a less emotional response than the honourable
lady. I’m extremely proud to be supporting this bill. It protects
our country and it safeguards the UK. The honourable lady’s
leader called for patriotism this week but their opposition to
this bill is anything but patriotic. How she can call herself a
UK MP but vote against this bill that she is undermining the
integrity United Kingdom. “
