European Council 2016 Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

European Council 2016

Oliver Dowden Excerpts
Monday 19th December 2016

(8 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait The Prime Minister
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Where people have breached international humanitarian law, the UK Government’s position is that that should be investigated and properly dealt with and that people should be brought to justice as a result. As for the available options, some further sanctions have been considered. This is an issue that the UK has raised in the past and one that we continue to look at.

Oliver Dowden Portrait Oliver Dowden (Hertsmere) (Con)
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Does the Prime Minister agree that her first duty is to defend the rights of British subjects? It would therefore be a foolish negotiating strategy to guarantee the rights of EU nationals here unilaterally—much as we would like to—until we have achieved reciprocity for UK nationals residing in other states.

Baroness May of Maidenhead Portrait The Prime Minister
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I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. It is fairly obvious that the UK Prime Minister should have concern for UK citizens. We do not want UK citizens who live in other EU member states to be left high and dry, which is why our position has always been that we will guarantee the status of EU citizens living here provided that UK citizens living in EU member states have their rights guaranteed as well.