Leaving the EU Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Leaving the EU

Mark Pritchard Excerpts
Monday 26th November 2018

(6 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait The Prime Minister
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I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave earlier.

Mark Pritchard Portrait Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) (Con)
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Despite the Prime Minister’s honourable and good intentions, is it not an indisputable fact, irrespective of whether colleagues voted remain or leave, that the political declaration is not legally binding and the withdrawal agreement is legally binding?

Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait The Prime Minister
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Yes. My hon. Friend is absolutely right. The withdrawal agreement is legally binding. The political declaration is not a legal text, because the European Union cannot sign a legal text in relation to trade matters with a country that is a member of the European Union. It can only do that when we are outside the European Union.