A delegation of seven German parliamentarians recently attended a session of the UK House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, marking an unusual departure from customary practice in Westminster. The meeting took place against the backdrop of the recently ratified Kensington Treaty, an agreement involving UK Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, covering areas such as defence, immigration, and educational exchanges.

Led by Armin Laschet, former candidate for German chancellor and a senior member of the Bundestag, the German delegation participated alongside six British MPs, with Labour chair Dame Emily Thornberry presiding over the session. The German ambassador to the UK was also present at the committee table. The meeting included discussions that touched on bilateral defence cooperation, Brexit, and EU relations.

Speaking at the session, Dame Emily Thornberry welcomed the delegation, referring to the occasion as “unique and historic” and emphasizing Germany’s longstanding role as a key ally. However, her misidentification of the German parliament as the “Bundesbank” attracted attention during the proceedings.

Members of the German delegation expressed a range of views on Brexit and related matters. Armin Laschet acknowledged the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union as regrettable but accepted it as a political reality. Jurgen Hardt, another delegation member, echoed this sentiment, while highlighting the need for close cooperation between the UK and Germany despite diverging policies. He also suggested that the UK should adapt to certain EU regulations moving forward.

Contrasting perspectives were presented by Stefan Keuter of the Alternative für Deutschland party, who voiced support for Brexit and criticized the Kensington Treaty, although he admitted to having not read the agreement. Keuter expressed a desire for Germany to pursue a path similar to the UK’s EU exit, including renewed energy ties with Russia and a different stance on the conflict in Ukraine. His views sparked some discomfort among the UK audience, as did those of a representative from Die Linke, a left-wing German party opposed to military interventions.

Labour MP Fleur Anderson questioned the visitors on their assessment of the Kensington Treaty, while other British MPs, including Liberal Democrat Edward Morello, raised Brexit-related issues during the session. Adis Ahmetovic, a Social Democrat from Germany, praised Andy Burnham and stated that Brexit was “not the best answer” for the UK, indicating ongoing differences in opinion on European integration.

The presence of foreign parliamentarians with equal standing to elected British MPs in a Commons committee meeting was notable, prompting debate about the implications for UK parliamentary sovereignty. The gathering illustrated ongoing dialogue and tensions between the UK and its European partners in the post-Brexit era, encompassing diplomatic, economic, and strategic issues.