Contributions
2,308 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActI will just make some progress, and then I will happily take further interventions. On the backstop, let me address colleagues’ concerns about being trapped, which was raised in a…09 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. This comes back to the point that businesses and our citizens want the certainty of a deal and want one set of changes in the implementation…09 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActThe answer is that we have already seen a signal of that in the political declaration—on the technology that a number of Members have highlighted, for example. There is a shared…09 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActMy right hon. Friend brings me on perfectly to the next phase of my speech, which is about the role of Parliament, how we look at the decision on extending the implementation…09 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActI will make some progress and come back to my fellow Cambridge colleague very shortly. The more material issue raised in the House on the backstop related to whether it damages…09 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActThe hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that there are concerns about issues such as security. That is the very essence of why we need the deal. It will provide confidence on…09 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActMy hon. Friend is quite right to draw the House’s attention to the inconsistency that many of us are familiar with in the SNP’s position, particularly given that Scotland’s…09 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActMy hon. Friend, as a former Member of the European Parliament, always speaks with great authority on these issues, and she is absolutely right. After 45 years, we are winding down…09 Jan 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActBefore Christmas, the Government presented to Parliament a comprehensive deal for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. We continue to believe that this is the best deal to honour the…09 Jan 2019HANSARDEU Withdrawal Agreement: Legal ChangesAs I set out in my earlier remarks, there will be a business motion on Wednesday, when these issues will be discussed—as they are being discussed, prior to that, through the usual…07 Jan 2019HANSARDEU Withdrawal Agreement: Legal ChangesI did try to address that in my opening remarks. I said that we would update the House as part of the upcoming debate, and we have set aside a significant number of parliamentary…07 Jan 2019HANSARDEU Withdrawal Agreement: Legal ChangesThe hon. Lady should be much more candid with the electorate about the fact that she is actually calling for revocation. Extending article 50 is not a unilateral decision for the…07 Jan 2019HANSARDEU Withdrawal Agreement: Legal ChangesThe hon. Gentleman really goes to the heart of the issue, which is that I am seeking to rule out no deal by backing the Prime Minister’s deal, but the difference is that he is…07 Jan 2019HANSARDEU Withdrawal Agreement: Legal ChangesI respect the 800-odd people who emailed the hon. Lady on this, but the reality is that 17.4 million voted in the referendum, and it is on their mandate that this Government are…07 Jan 2019HANSARDEU Withdrawal Agreement: Legal ChangesThe reason is quite straightforward—that, against a finite deadline for when we leave the European Union, we need to put in place contingency plans. We were hoping to have secured…07 Jan 2019HANSARDEU Withdrawal Agreement: Legal ChangesI very much recognise the point that my hon. Friend is making. I shall pick out one example from among many. It relates to data, which is extremely important within the service…07 Jan 2019HANSARDEU Withdrawal Agreement: Legal ChangesOn the hon. Gentleman’s first point, I have obviously not seen the incidents outside, but anyone who stands at this Dispatch Box is mindful of the plaque commemorating Jo Cox,…07 Jan 2019HANSARDEU Withdrawal Agreement: Legal ChangesI feel I must slightly correct the hon. Lady. It was the House that voted to trigger article 50—a clear majority of Members voted that we should send the article 50 letter. On her…07 Jan 2019HANSARDEU Withdrawal Agreement: Legal ChangesI think we need to move away from some of the more inflammatory language around the consequences of no deal, but I do agree with my hon. Friend that there will be significant…07 Jan 2019HANSARDEU Withdrawal Agreement: Legal ChangesIn a tone that I am sure will reflect the year ahead, may I join the Leader of the Opposition in wishing you, Mr Speaker, and colleagues across the House a happy new year? As the…07 Jan 2019