Contributions
464 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionNo, I will not give way now. I think that the procedure I have set out, and to which the Government are committed, offers the House the best way forward.14 Mar 2019HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionI will give way once more and then I really do want to proceed with the substance of the debate.14 Mar 2019HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionMy right hon. Friend will understand that it would be wrong of me to comment upon a legal opinion by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney General, but I am sure that he…14 Mar 2019HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionI will give way to the Chair of the European Scrutiny Committee; then I do want to make progress.14 Mar 2019HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionI beg to move, That this House: (1) notes the resolutions of the House of 12 and 13 March, and accordingly agrees that the Government will seek to agree with the European Union an…14 Mar 2019HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionI will give way to the hon. Gentleman, but before I do so I want to say to hon. Members on both sides of the House that my intention is to set out, first, the Government’s case…14 Mar 2019HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionI hope that once I am able to make a little progress beyond my introductory paragraph, I will be able to provide the hon. Gentleman and others with an explanation of the different…14 Mar 2019HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionI wish to say two things to the hon. Gentleman in response. First, the Government’s position has been absolutely consistent on this, from the Prime Minister down: we stand by…14 Mar 2019HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionAs I indicated earlier, I plan to address amendment (h) later in my speech, along with the other amendments that you have selected, Mr Speaker. I hope it will provide some…14 Mar 2019HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionIf the hon. Gentleman will forgive me, I want to make some progress. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said to the House last night, this situation means facing up to…14 Mar 2019HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionIf the hon. Gentleman will bear with me, I intend to make reference to President Tusk’s comments later.14 Mar 2019HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionI think that a great many people would feel that that act set aside the decision they took in a democratic referendum three years ago. That was part of the case that Government…14 Mar 2019HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionIt is a perfectly serious question, but I appeal again for patience from Members, because I want to set out in detail the reasons for the Government’s choice of motion and the…14 Mar 2019HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionI shall give way one last time to the hon. Member for Chesterfield (Toby Perkins); then I shall make progress.14 Mar 2019HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionWith all respect to the hon. Gentleman, I am perhaps responsible for many things as a member of the Government, but I suspect not one of my right hon. and hon. Friends would want…14 Mar 2019HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionThe Government have given a commitment that in the event of the House voting in favour of extension and—this is not a given—the European Council agreeing to an extension, we will…14 Mar 2019HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionAs a matter of law, the hon. Gentleman is correct. Following the judgment of the European Court it is clear that the United Kingdom does have the power unilaterally to revoke its…14 Mar 2019HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionI have not had the pleasure of reading that legal opinion. However, there is a critical difference between the scenario that we are describing in respect of the United Kingdom and…14 Mar 2019HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionNo, I am not going to give way again for the moment. As I said, the motion that the Government have tabled for today’s debate is a start. We basically have two options. First, if…14 Mar 2019HANSARD UK’s Withdrawal from the European UnionI do not have the figures on cost to hand; they would be a matter of record available on the Electoral Commission’s website. However, we would have to make those elections…14 Mar 2019