UK’s Withdrawal from the European Union

Debate between Lord Gove and Barry Gardiner
Wednesday 13th March 2019

(6 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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I point out two things on that. First, the proposition that was put before the House was significantly different from the one that was put before the House beforehand. [Laughter.]

Barry Gardiner Portrait Barry Gardiner (Brent North) (Lab)
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You can’t be that stupid!

Lord Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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The hon. Gentleman taxes me about stupidity. I will return to his comments in just a second. The key thing is that the proposition was different, but of course we did not secure support for it and the House now has to decide. I respect the right hon. Member for Leeds Central (Hilary Benn) very much, as he knows, but it was the official position of his Front-Bench team not to endorse a second referendum and they have done what might inelegantly be called a flip-flop or U-turn. I was merely pointing out to the House the nature of that flip-flop and U-turn.