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2,308 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEuropean Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and Extension LetterNotice of the withdrawal agreement Bill was given to the House on Saturday. The Bill was handed to the House yesterday, as agreed with the House authorities. It will be introduced…21 Oct 2019HANSARDEuropean Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill and Extension LetterWhat I was referring to in those remarks was in line with international obligations. Some practical information will need to be provided electronically on the movement of goods…21 Oct 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActsMembers from across the House who have seen the assiduous nature of hon. Gentleman, particularly in Adjournment debates, will know that his constituents never get a second-class…19 Oct 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActsAs a former Government Chief Whip, my right hon. Friend is absolutely right on the process that applies. The other issue that is sometimes forgotten is that our friends and…19 Oct 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActsI can very much confirm that. The Prime Minister was told that the backstop could not be removed, but its removal is exactly what he has achieved. He was told that was impossible,…19 Oct 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActsI say yes to this: to proceed, we need to comply with section 13 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. That is the argument that the right hon. Gentleman and many others…19 Oct 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActsI suspect that a point on which the hon. Lady and I could agree is that there is probably no level of analysis that is going to change her vote and her mind. As a former Treasury…19 Oct 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActsI will give way one further time, and then I will move on.19 Oct 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActsMy right hon. Friend is absolutely right. This is the first step, not the final one. The House will have further opportunities to debate these issues.19 Oct 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActsI very much agree with my right hon. Friend. Indeed, some of those voices distrust not only one referendum but two referendums, and now they want a third referendum on which to…19 Oct 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActsFirst, I welcome the support of my hon. Friend. One issue that the shadow Secretary of State and I agree on is that, on these issues, there has not been a lack of scrutiny, given…19 Oct 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActsAs the hon. Lady should know, the unilateral declaration published with the documentation on both the withdrawal agreement and the political declaration does, indeed, allow for a…19 Oct 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActsI refer the hon. Lady to the letter that the Prime Minister sent to President Juncker on 2 October. The first commitment within that letter was the absolute commitment of this…19 Oct 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActsIt is also worth clarifying—this speaks very much to the unilateral declaration and the concerns on how it operates—that this is about a reserved matter that applies to our…19 Oct 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActsThe difficulty with that argument, with great respect—I do very much respect the right hon. Gentleman’s concerns—is that Stormont is not sitting at present. That is why we have…19 Oct 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActsI will come to that precise point shortly, but I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for his support—perhaps the legislation should now be called the Burt-Benn Act, rather than…19 Oct 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActsI will make a little more progress before taking further interventions. This is a deal that the Prime Minister was told was impossible. We were told that the withdrawal agreement…19 Oct 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActsI very much respect that point. The right hon. Gentleman has always reached out to build consensus across the House, which is important. The commitment that the Prime Minister…19 Oct 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActsParagraph 77 sets out our commitment to high international standards and to their being reciprocal, as befits the relationship that we reach with the European Union. The hon.…19 Oct 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal) ActsThe problem with the right hon. and learned Gentleman’s argument is that it is at odds with what he says about section 13. Each time it is a different argument, but the purpose is…19 Oct 2019