Withdrawal Agreement: Legal Advice Debate

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Department: Attorney General

Withdrawal Agreement: Legal Advice

Christian Matheson Excerpts
Thursday 29th November 2018

(5 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Robert Buckland Portrait The Solicitor General
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It is very easy, in the eye of a storm, to cast caution to the winds and throw away sensible and well worked out convention. This is not the time for us to do that.

Christian Matheson Portrait Christian Matheson (City of Chester) (Lab)
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May I express my sympathy for the Solicitor General, who has been sent out today to defend the indefensible and take one for the team? May I also say, however, that responsible government means respecting the will of the House? How on earth can the Government ask the House to support the withdrawal agreement if at the same time they show contempt for a previous major decision that the House has made?

Robert Buckland Portrait The Solicitor General
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The hon. Gentleman is a reasonable man and an honourable Member. I ask him to listen carefully to the Attorney General, to read the documents—as I know he will—and then to reach a judgment after the next sitting day, when he will hear in full the legal basis for the Government’s decision.