Contributions
1,197 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018What I was saying was—29 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018It is a pleasure to speak in this debate, and it is important to start by reminding us all that this whole process was secured only in the teeth of Government opposition, so I…29 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018I will give way later to a small number of people. [ Interruption. ] Listen, the reason why this debate is so short is that the Government decided to take an hour out of it to…29 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention and, of course, he is right. If we are to protect jobs and industries and maintain living standards, there has to be a customs union.29 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018Obviously a customs union would be negotiated, would be inclusive and would be designed to ensure that our jobs and investment are protected, that there is frictionless and…29 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I was saying, the fault lies exclusively with the Prime Minister, who missed her own deadline to have a deal agreed by October, and she still suffered…29 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018I give way to my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham West and Royton (Jim McMahon).29 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018I thank my hon. Friend for his intervention. The point he makes about the way in which this House debates these matters is important. He has led a local authority, Oldham, brought…29 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018Thank you, Mr Speaker.29 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018I will give way to my right hon. Friend.29 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018Thank you, Mr Speaker. Is the Prime Minister seriously telling this House that we have to wait until 13 February—29 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018And put—[Hon. Members: “She’s behind you.”] I can well understand what the Tory MPs are trying to do here. They do not want to hear the debate. They do not want to be part of this…29 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018Thank you, Mr Speaker.29 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018I did take an intervention from the Prime Minister, Mr Speaker. Perhaps the hon. Lady had not noticed that. Is the Prime Minister seriously telling the House to wait until 13…29 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018I am making progress. The Home Secretary has gone further and called for a free vote on the amendment tabled by my right hon. Friend the Member for Normanton, Pontefract and…29 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018I thank my right hon. Friend for those remarks and the spirit in which she made them. Her amendment quite clearly has the effect of ruling out no deal on 29 March. Surely that…29 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018I am making progress, if I may. The primary part of Labour’s amendment is about finding a workable solution. That means a new customs union, a strong single market deal and no…29 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. We are witnessing the long, slow decline of this Government as they run down the clock. They put off the vote then lost the vote.…29 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018I am going to make progress. In the absence of any leadership from the Prime Minister, solutions are being put forward from across the House. Those advocating Norway plus or…29 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018So far, the Prime Minister has only doubled down on her own defeated deal, saying at last week’s Prime Minister’s Question Time that her deal delivers “the benefits of a customs…29 Jan 2019