In brief
- Clauses that are admitted to authorise a breach of international law could not be said to be covered by the Salisbury Convention.
The controversial clauses—breaking international law and barring judicial review—were duly approved by the Commons by large majorities in the Committee stage of the Bill on Monday. But will they be rejected by the Lords and if so, will the Lords insist, preventing passage of the Bill under the Parliament Act?
The Government will have been seriously discomfited by Mrs Theresa May’s powerful speech (see opposite page) denouncing the offending clauses. (‘I can say to the Minister that, in my view, clauses 41 to 45 have no place in this Bill.’) Her speech will deservedly be quoted over and over again in the Lords.
Sir Robert (Bob) Neill, Conservative, Chairman of the Justice Select Committee, told the Commons he was satisfied by the Government’s amendment requiring that any activation of a breach of international law
