David Cameron has been spared the ordeal of a forensic grilling by arch-Brexiteers who sit on a Parliamentary committee – with one Westminster insider suggesting the Foreign Secretary would be “relieved” at the outcome. Lord Cameron – the man who when UK Prime Minister actually called the 2016 reference – had been due to appear before the European Scrutiny Committee today at 2pm, with the discussion due to centre on the UK’s new relationship with the EU after leaving the bloc.
However, with tonight’s crucial vote on the Government’s Rwanda vote looming, MPs sitting on the committee – chaired by arch-eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash – decided to postpone the session. One source told Express.co.uk it was highly likely Lord Cameron was “relieved” not to have to appear.
The appearance would have been the peer’s first appearance before a Select Committee since his appointment as Foreign Secretary and elevation to the House of Lords last month. The Committee was expected to question him on the Government’s overall approach to relations with the EU.
MPs were also expected to ask him about the review of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, coming in 2026; UK/EU negotiations on trade and border deal for Gibraltar; the EU’s proposed Entry-Exit System and the UK’s response; the EU’s Immigration and Asylum Pact; and EU defence cooperation through its Permanent Structured Cooperation Programme.
Speaking to The Daily Express yesterday, Lord Cameron urged MPs to get behind Rishi Sunak’s legislation this evening, insisting planned new laws to enable asylum seekers to be flown to the east African country will stop migrant boats from crossing the English Channel. He said: “If we want to stop the boats, to stop this illegal migration, you simply have to have a strong deterrence policy, and this legislation will achieve that.
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“I saw it when I was in office when there were huge numbers of people going from Turkey to Greece. And everyone thought that would never be stopped.But actually, once there was an agreement that anyone who arrived on a dinghy from Turkey to Greece went back to Turkey, and the Turks took them back, the number almost collapsed overnight.”
Separately, shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy clashed with Andrew Mitchell, Lord Cameron’s deputy, in the Commons today. The Labour frontbencher said: “Another day where the Foreign Secretary is unaccountable in the middle of a war that could get still even worse. West Bank violence is rising, Hezbollah have attacked Israeli positions and Israeli air strikes have hit towns in south Lebanon.
He continued: “A widening in this conflict is in no-one’s interests, and all parties must show restraint. While Lord Cameron is absent from this place, what steps is the Foreign Secretary taking to prepare for further escalation and deter all parties from full-blown regional war?”
Foreign Office minister Mr Mitchell responded: “I fully understand that Mr Lammy wishes to have close contact with Lord Cameron as the Foreign Secretary. But he will be aware that he is in almost continuous contact with the Foreign Secretary by text and WhatsApp. Indeed, if he was in any closer contact it would probably be a civil partnership.”
