Contributions
348 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSoldiers and Veterans: Protection from ProsecutionI can give the hon. Gentleman that confirmation. No area of the United Kingdom can be left out; plainly that would be wrong. As he knows, that does not mean that there may not be…31 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActI am immensely obliged to the hon. Lady because that is precisely what I want to move on to. If we accept, and I urge this House to accept, that effectively 90% of this withdrawal…15 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActHerein lies the critical question that we all have to confront in connection to the backstop. Before I answer it, however, I will take my hon. Friend’s intervention.15 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActYou cannot say to somebody to whom you owe money, “I am not going to pay you my debt unless you give me something else.” It is not attractive, it is not consistent with the honour…15 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActI will do in a moment. Let me get on because time is short and I need to move on. On the backstop, there is, I would suggest to the House, an inconsistency. There are those who…15 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActI must make some progress. But even if I am wrong about that, let us examine what the hon. Member for North Down (Lady Hermon) asked me to look at. What is the position in the…15 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActI must make progress. I say to my hon. Friends, as I say to Opposition Members, the EU will have to set up entirely different legal and administrative systems in order to set up…15 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActYou upbraid me entirely justly, Mr Speaker, and I apologise.15 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActThe amendment that my right hon. Friend has tabled would, in my judgment, not be compatible with our international law obligations. He may know and accept that, but it is…15 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActMy hon. Friend is wrong. The House of Lords did not say that. The House of Lords Committee said that there was no obligation in EU law, but that there may well be public…15 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActI will give way to my right hon. Friend the Member for Broxtowe (Anna Soubry), but first I need to make some progress. Orderly exit from the European Union would always require a…15 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActI respectfully suggest to my right hon. Friend that that is because the expectations of the withdrawal agreement have been far too unrealistic. [ Interruption. ] This is a serious…15 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActI set myself a clear time limit, but I am anxious— [ Interruption. ] You really cannot win. I am trying to take as many interventions as I can, and I will take that of the hon.…15 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActWe must start from where we are now. It is easy to say, “We shouldn’t have started from here.” The political declaration sets out clear parameters about the future treaty. First,…15 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActIt is not a legal document, but no political declaration would ever be a legal document, by definition. Under EU law, we cannot have a finally negotiated text with all the legal…15 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActNo, I must now make progress. Secondly, there will be an independent trade policy. One cannot have a customs union—certainly one that is not bespoke—while having an independent…15 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActNo. The same benefits but with no free movement—that is exactly what the Government want. They want a clear, strong, deep relationship with the European Union with no free…15 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActWill the hon. Lady forgive me, but I really cannot? Her own colleagues say that I am taking too long, and I must wind up. The position is that the political declaration includes…15 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActI will suggest the next office you could perhaps promote me to, Mr Speaker. I am more than conscious that last time I had a prolonged outing in this House the verdict did not go…15 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActI must move on, because the next thing I must deal with is the alternatives.15 Jan 2019