UK’s Withdrawal from the EU

Jeremy Corbyn Excerpts
Thursday 14th February 2019

(5 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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17:29

Division 333

Ayes: 258


Conservative: 243
Democratic Unionist Party: 10
Labour: 4
Independent: 2

Noes: 303


Labour: 244
Scottish National Party: 35
Liberal Democrat: 11
Conservative: 5
Plaid Cymru: 4
Independent: 2
Green Party: 1

Jeremy Corbyn Portrait Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) (Lab)
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On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Tonight’s vote shows that there is no majority for the Prime Minister’s course of action in dealing with Brexit. Yet again, her Government have been defeated. The Government cannot keep on ignoring Parliament or ploughing on towards 29 March without a coherent plan. She cannot keep on just running down the clock and hoping that something will turn up that will save the day and save her face.

It is surprising that the Prime Minister is not even here to hear the result of this vote. I was going to ask her to come to the Dispatch Box now to admit that her strategy has failed and bring forward to the House a coherent plan that can deal with the stresses and anxieties that so many people all over this country are feeling, so that we can make some progress together, bring people together and prevent the catastrophe of a no-deal exit on 29 March. It is surprising that the Prime Minister is not here. Is there some way by which you could encourage her to return to the Dispatch Box and tell us what her plan is?

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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It is not obligatory for the Prime Minister to be present on this occasion. Other representatives of the Treasury Bench are here, and if the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union wants to take to the Dispatch Box, it is open to him to do so, but he is not obliged to do so.