Contributions
836 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsMy right hon. Friend makes a really important point and that is one of the key areas the Joint Committee is continuing to work on. It is important that it comes to a satisfactory,…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsMy right hon. Friend makes a very generous point about a number of my predecessors. They all worked hard—across this House, to be fair—in terms of the gains from the peace…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsThe hon. Gentleman makes a very powerful point, and he is absolutely right that nobody wants to see, and there is no reason for there to be, a border either on the island of…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsIn the spirit in which the question was asked, yes.08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsI would say that the apparatus we are using is working through the Joint Committee on the free trade agreement deals and the UK internal market Bill. As with anything, this is all…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsMy hon. Friend has put the situation absolutely perfectly. The Bill, as we will publish it tomorrow, as colleagues and Members across this House will see, will set out how we…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsWe are fully committed to implementing the withdrawal agreement and the Northern Ireland protocol, and have already taken many practical steps to do so. The protocol was designed…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsThe hon. Lady should wait until she sees the legislation tomorrow, because I hope she will then see that we are delivering on the very promises to which she just referred. She…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsWe have worked with the EU in a spirit of good faith, and both sides continue to work in that spirit to implement the arrangements that uphold the fundamental principles that lie…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsThe hon. Lady and I have a distinct difference of opinion, because whereas the SNP want to hand powers straight back to Brussels, we, the UK Government and the Conservative party,…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsMy right hon. Friend has spoken about these issues over the last year or so and has been clear about his position, and he is absolutely right. The UK internal market Bill will…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsAs I assume the right hon. Gentleman knows, that forms part of the discussions that are going on in the specialist committee, between us and the EU, to deal with these issues. Our…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsWe, as a country, stand for international law and the order of the international system, and we always will. I think countries around the world are aware of that. They are equally…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsIn large part, I agree with what the hon. Lady just outlined. We had a letter from her party and others yesterday, outlining the issues around the Good Friday agreement. The point…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsThe right hon. Gentleman has had a strong, consistent view on these issues from the very beginning. I think that there is a huge opportunity for the whole United Kingdom and…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsMy hon. Friend makes a good point. We outlined very clearly—I do not think anybody can be under any misapprehension about it—our position at the general election: that we would…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsOn the first part of the hon. Gentleman’s question, quite the opposite—we are focused on coming to an agreement through the trade negotiations and the specialist Joint Committee,…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsYes. My hon. Friend makes a hugely important point. We should be clear that the UK internal market Bill and the Finance Bill are the last two legislative opportunities for us to…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsAs I said earlier, specific issues in the protocol were always designed to be worked out through the Joint Committee. It is right that the Government are taking reasonable,…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. That has to be at the core of what we do and at the heart of that is why the concept of consent is important. It is right that we remember that…08 Sept 2020