Defiant Lords ‘playing with fire’ over Brexit, say MPs

Shrewsbury's MP Daniel Kawczynski believes that the "unelected, unaccountable and privileged" peers fail to understand the needs of those on the lowest incomes and should not interfere in Brexit negotiations.

This week peers warned that shoppers would face significant hikes in food bills if the Government fails to secure a free trade deal with the European Union.

They suggested grocery costs would rise, businesses could go bust and round year supplies put at risk.

Customers could be left in a two-tier system that means the better off buy more expensive, British goods while those who are poorer are left with lower-standard cheap imports, they warned.

Peers said there was a "striking" contrast between Government confidence about the potential impact of Brexit on the price and availability of food and concerns raised by the industry.

On Wednesday they backed retaining key aspects of the EU's single market through continued participation in the European Economic Area (EEA) by 245 votes to 218, a majority of 27.

It came in defiance of both the Government and Opposition front benches and followed earlier defeats on the Brexit date and participation in EU agencies.

The Government has suffered 14 defeats over its flagship EU Withdrawal Bill, with the latest reversals coming on the sixth and final day of the bill's report stage in the upper chamber.

Last month, Daniel Kawczynski said if Britain remained in a customs union with the EU, it would prevent it from negotiating trade deals with other countries which would bring cheaper food, clothing and shoes to the UK.

He dismissed the argument put forward by some peers, adding: “Who spends the most on food, clothing and footwear as a proportion of their income? It is those on the lowest incomes.

Privileged

“Those Lords with their privileged lifestyles, I don’t think they really understand the impact this protectionism is having on the costs of these things. These unelected, unaccountable peers are playing with fire, they are dealing a huge blow to people’s confidence in Westminster.

"Their behaviour is deeply troubling and undemocratic. It’s an insult to the British people’s intelligence to say they didn’t realise that part of Brexit would involve leaving the customs union and the single market.”

Glyn Davies, MP for Montgomeryshire added: "I'm not opposed to the Lords, but they have gone too far with the whole Brexit situation.

"They have sent 14 separate issues back to the Commons. We will debate them and then go back to the Lords. If they don't like it then it could leave us with a constitutional issue.

"It is crazy how the House of Lords is bigger that the Commons. A total reform of the house would need to be carefully considered and properly discussed."

Peers said even though it was unclear yet what any potential agreement could have it was 'inconceivable' that Brexit would have no impact on EU food imports to the UK.

Half the UK's food is imported, with 30 per cent from from the EU, 11 per cent from countries with EU trade deals and the rest from other countries.

A vital brake on MPs or an unelected mob?

Calls to reform the House of Lords have been rumbling for decades but the public are split on the future of unelected peers.

The government suffered a shock Brexit defeat in the House of Lords after peers voted to retain key aspects of the EU’s single market.

That led some MPs have said the power the House of Lords has over the Brexit negotiations needs to be curbed.

A shropshirestar.com poll backed those calls, with 68 per cent saying the existing Lords should be replaced by an elected senate.

Shoppers in Shrewsbury were divided, with many enjoying the tradition but some concerned that it affects the UK’s democracy.

Susan Jones, 53, from Oswestry, said: “I think it should be reformed slightly because there is just too many of them who are there with no real reason other than their status which I don’t think is right. But they do play an important role in scrutinising the House of Commons. They should be held to account.”

Sebastian Ennis, 44, from Wrexham, added: “They should be shut down because they’re not elected. It’s the people who should be running the country, not the House of Lords. They should leave Brexit up to the government to do what is best for the country because they were chosen by the people.”

Diane Ennis, 73, from Wrexham, said the House of Lords plays an important part in the country’s tradition.

“They’ve already got rid of a lot of lords but I think they should have kept it the way it was because it’s tradition,” she added.

Mike Willmott, from Shrewsbury, said: “Its selection needs to be reformed but the brake it’s using is a lifesaver. It can put a brake on some of the wackier things the government is trying to do.

“There are about 800 of them though, and the number that have fallen asleep and have claimed ridiculous expenses is ridiculous so I think the way they are selected needs to be changed. But used as a tool to save our democracy, I think it is great. And when it comes to Brexit, yes the lords are sticking their oars in but only for the best.”