Euro-sceptic former chancellor Lord Lamont denounced the European Charter on Fundamental Rights as a lawyers’ charter at a CIPD conference debate on Europe yesterday.
Speaking at the Harrogate conference, Lord Lamont derided the charter for giving British citizens rights they already have such as the right to marry or not be enslaved.
He said, "This is just a lawyers charter, the only reason [for it] is that Europe likes to have its own bureaucracy, to have its own prestige symbol. There is an awful lot of empire building."
Lord Lamont was taking part in a debate alongside John Morley, senior adviser in employment and social affairs at the European Commission, and Janet Bush, director of New Europe, an anti-Euro pro-Europe organisation chaired by Lord Owen.
By Helen Rowe
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
