Article 50

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Monday 7th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

The ruling of the Court is simply a judgment, no more, no less, and I do not see it in any political context.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Will the Secretary of State celebrate the fact that parliamentary sovereignty is now embraced even by those who campaigned to leave it in Brussels?

[Mr Davis]

My right hon. Friend makes a point that I may agree with but dare not make myself.

--- Later in debate ---

[Robert Flello (Stoke-on-Trent South) (Lab)]

Three quarters of my constituents and the majority of this country have said that they want to exit. I agree that we must get on with it—unequivocally, for the benefit of the hon. Member for Monmouth (David T. C. Davies). Why, however, are we waiting for a decision that may well go against the Government? By all means let the Secretary of State pursue the case in court if he must, but let him bring a Bill to the House and let us vote on it. Let us vote to trigger article 50 at the right time, as the Government have set out, and let us pursue exit from the European Union. Why does he not just do it?

[Sir Desmond Swayne]

Answer!

[Mr Davis]

I am going to. First, because the triggering of article 50 should be done only when the policy work is complete, and it is not yet complete. Secondly, because the judicial timetable still allows us to meet the date of 30 March, which is the date that we are going to hit.