The debate was good enough to shift obdurate, entrenched and virulent opinion (I speak for myself).
In the end the summary seems to be: good idea, bad bill/bad idea, bad bill.
In the blue corner, the democrats who say that it is the settled will of the British people that there be a referendum (Lords Owen, King et alia). In the red corner, the lofty lefties who think the people should act in their higher interests by doing what they’re told.
In the middle, peers who may be for or against a referendum but who prefer to wallow the filthy politics of it. For them it’s a partisan Bill, it’s designed to get Cameron out of a hole, it’s pandering, it’s probably the result of global warming.
Lord Liddle (Lab, obviously) got a great shout of laughter when he described the deep divisions in the Conservative party on Europe and claimed, “Labour does not have these visceral internal divisions to manage.”
Noble Lords: Oh!
“Oh!” may need translating. I leave that to Commentators, below.
Rianna Hull, layabout, bragging on Facebook…
“Jst gta announce that i love every working person in cumbria cz fanx to uze i get to sit on my jeer all day nd help use spend yr wagez ! Yaz no hw t spend it wisely ya jenerous fuckz xxxxx.”
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