European Council: Article 50 Extension

John Howell Excerpts
Friday 22nd March 2019

(5 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Kwasi Kwarteng Portrait Kwasi Kwarteng
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As the hon. Gentleman knows, that amendment—it is not clear whether it has even been accepted—has been rejected twice, and there is no reason the Government should back an amendment that has been rejected twice.

John Howell Portrait John Howell (Henley) (Con)
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I say to the House gently that I am less and less interested in hypothetical solutions to this problem. I voted for the deal and will do so again. The issue of no deal is not about trading on WTO terms; it is about ending the enormous uncertainty that will continue for companies if we go out in a no-deal scenario.

Kwasi Kwarteng Portrait Kwasi Kwarteng
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My hon. Friend puts it extremely well. These hypothetical discussions do not alleviate the uncertainty or address the problem. There is huge uncertainty, and the sooner we end it by backing a deal, the better it will be for this country.