United Kingdom’s Withdrawal from the European Union

Debate between Nick Thomas-Symonds and Martin Whitfield

Friday 29th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Nick Thomas-Symonds]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Let me be clear: Labour Members will never leave a Tory Prime Minister free to rip up workers’ rights and protections and to put the jobs and livelihoods of our constituents at risk in a Brexit that would be driven by ideology. As my hon. Friend set out, the motion before us today is clear, and the Attorney General is clear, that it does not even pretend to meet the requirements of section 13 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act.

[Martin Whitfield (East Lothian) (Lab)]

In the cul-de-sac of certainty that the Government are announcing today, is it not possible that they might seek to appeal or revoke section 13 at some date, which would get them out of their problem?

[Nick Thomas-Symonds]

Given the Government’s conduct in negotiations in recent years, who knows? We can rule very little out.