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Verbatim report of proceedings
Wednesday, 26 February 2014 - Strasbourg Revised edition

Common European sales law (debate)
MPphoto
 

  William (The Earl of) Dartmouth, on behalf of the EFD Group. – Mr President, 120[nbsp ]years ago, the British Parliament passed the Sale of Goods Act. In 1979, that Act was re-enacted with minor amendments and it remains very much the same today. Every day in Britain, millions of people and thousands of businesses buy and sell under contracts governed by the Sale of Goods Act. The Act has stood the test of time because it is a model of brevity, clarity and simplicity.

Now along comes the Commission, in its self-absorbed wisdom, proffering a common European sales law. Twice the length of the UK Sale of Goods Act, it is a minor masterpiece of legislative flatulence which will benefit only lawyers. It is voluntary for the UK at the moment, but on past form our British consumers will eventually be deprived of the tried and tested benefits of English law and our government will be powerless.

Mark my words: UK electors have had enough of this. By the way, Commissioner Reding, please come back to the UK soon and often. Every out-of-touch, arrogant utterance from you gains the UK Independence Party an extra MEP. One thing which we can be sure of – and which I predict now – is that we shall have a very different Parliament in May, which would vote down this arrogant, out-of-touch, useless piece of legislation, which actually comes out of a Commission which acts against the interests of the people and not with them.

(The speaker agreed to take a blue-card question under Rule 149(8))

 
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