Lib Dem peer gets eviscerated by John Humphrys as she hints her House of Lords colleagues will block Brexit
AN UNELECTED Lib Dem peer has hinted her party may ‘deny the will of the people’ by trying to stop Britain leaving the European Union.
Theresa May had hoped to be able to trigger Article 50 – and start the formal Brexit process – without the agreement of Parliament.
But last week’s momentous High Court decision that Parliament must have a say has triggered a must win vote for the Government in the Commons.
And today Baroness Ludford implied her party would make it difficult for Mrs May in the House of Lords.
The party’s Brexit spokeswoman in the Lords sparked an angry reaction this morning when she said the Lib Dems want to know exactly what the Government’s direction was.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme she said: “What we want is for the government to come forward with a coherent negotiating plan, which they have had four months to do.
“The ball is entirely in their court.
“There doesn’t need to be any more delay.
“We are completely prepared to act in good faith if the government does.”
After saying she wanted to know “exactly” what the destination is the veteran broadcaster John Humphrys blasted: “You know what the destination is.
“We will be leaving the European Union.
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“That is what the nation voted for.”
She said a hard Brexit was “not in the interests of the country” and it was not what people voted for in June.
This was given short shrift by Humphrys who told her people did not vote for hard or soft Brexit, they just voted for Brexit.
And he added that if the Lib Dems vote against the Government’s plan in the House of Lords then they would be “denying the will of the people”.
Speaking after the High Court ruling last Thursday, reports Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: “Ultimately, the British people voted for a departure but not for a destination, which is why what really matters is allowing them to vote again on the final deal, given them the chance to say no to an irresponsible hard Brexit that risks out economy and our jobs.”
Yesterday interim Ukip leader Nigel Farage warned any attempt to stop Brexit could trigger “unprecedented political anger”.
Speaking on the Andrew Marr show on BBC One he said: “If the people in this country think they're going to be cheated, they're going to be betrayed, then we will see political anger the likes of which none of us in our lifetimes have ever witnessed in this country."
"The temperature of this is very very high.
“I'm going to say to everybody watching this who is on the Brexit side, let's try and get even.”
And he said: "The House of Lords' problem is there are 104 Liberal Democrat peers who appear to be pledged to delaying the process as much as possible.
"This could be the end of the House of Lords."