Oral Answers to Questions

Chris Law Excerpts

Wednesday 30th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[Chris Law (Dundee West) (SNP)]

9. What recent discussions she has had with the Prime Minister on the backstop protocol in the EU Withdrawal Agreement.

[The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Karen Bradley)]

I have regular discussions with the Prime Minister and others about all aspects of our exit from the European Union.

--- Later in debate ---

[Karen Bradley]

Can I very gently point out to the hon. Lady that she voted against the backstop?

[Chris Law]

In order to protect the Good Friday agreement, the backstop protocol was designed as an insurance policy to prevent a hard border in all circumstances. The only major party in these islands that opposed the Good Friday agreement was the Democratic Unionist party. Did the Secretary of State consult with any other party in Northern Ireland before throwing her support behind the new Government policy of ditching the backstop?

[Karen Bradley]

This Government are committed to ensuring that we meet all our commitments under the Belfast-Good Friday agreement, and that we deliver on the vote of the British people to leave the European Union. That is what we are working to achieve.