European Scrutiny Committee

In the House of Commons, a minister delivered a statement emphasizing the importance of having a thorough debate on the motion at hand. The minister acknowledged the impressive speeches and maiden speeches heard throughout the afternoon, but noted that the focus had been on scrutiny, accountability, and responsibility. The minister found it extraordinary that while the other House has a Committee to scrutinize the UK's relations with the European Union, and the Government is seeking to reform the House of Lords, there could be a situation where there is only a Committee to scrutinize EU relations in the other place. The minister pointed out that of the 27 Committees mentioned in the Order Paper, the European Scrutiny Committee is the only one that includes the word "scrutiny," yet it is the one Committee that the Leader of the House wants to do away with. The minister reminded the House of the Government's pre-election, during-election, and post-election statements about the importance of the UK's relations with its European Union friends and the potential negotiations on a wide range of important issues. The minister recalled the slogan "Take back control of our borders, our money and our laws," and argued that if the UK is to take back control of its laws, then the laws and the negotiations proposed by the Government on behalf of the people should be scrutinized in detail and earnest, as has been proposed for other matters throughout the afternoon. In conclusion, the minister urged the Leader of the House, the Government, and the Whips to reflect on this and suggested that the Leader of the House should withdraw the motion, reflect on it during the upcoming month, and bring it back to the House in September.