European Union (Amendment) Bill

I do not accept that for one moment. It is absolutely plain at the present time, although I would add the caveat that things could quickly change because certain passages in a recent judgment by Lord Justice Laws suggest that things are changing and that the time will come when the courts will say that the European Communities Act 1972 has a special character and is an Act of such constitutional significance that nothing can be done about it. I am talking about the law as it is now. If the law now is the law as stated by Lord Denning, I am right and, with the greatest respect, the noble Lord is wrong. I see that the noble Lord, Lord Lester, wishes to intervene and I shall be delighted to give way to him. I am very conscious of the fact that I was rather discourteous to him the other night, which I put down to overexcitement, deafness and the knowledge that the House wished to come to a conclusion. But that makes me doubly glad to give way to him now.