Article 50

Bernard Jenkin Excerpts

Tuesday 24th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Anna Soubry (Broxtowe) (Con)]

There is a genuine desire, I believe, for people to come together, to support the Government, to build a consensus and to get the best deal possible. The reality is that we have abandoned the single market and the free movement of people without any debate in this place, never mind a vote.

[Mr Bernard Jenkin (Harwich and North Essex) (Con)]

We had a referendum.

[Anna Soubry]

Well, there was one question on the paper: leave or remain. We are leaving the European Union—that is accepted.

I take my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State as a man of his word. When I voted for the two-part motion in December, I did not agree with triggering article 50 at the end of March, but I voted for the motion in the spirit that we would have a plan—I would like a White Paper—that we could debate. That would bring us together. What does my right hon. Friend have to lose by having a debate on a White Paper?