EU Withdrawal Agreement: Legal Changes Debate

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Department: Department for Exiting the European Union

EU Withdrawal Agreement: Legal Changes

Stephen Timms Excerpts
Monday 11th March 2019

(5 years, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Robin Walker Portrait Mr Walker
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The hon. Gentleman asks a fair question and I respect the integrity with which he does so. The Speaker has already indicated that he would be prepared to accept manuscript amendments and I have been clear that the Government will bring forward their motion and the Attorney General’s advice as soon as they can. I am sure the hon. Gentleman’s ingenuity will allow him to pursue the ends he means to pursue in a parliamentary way.

Stephen Timms Portrait Stephen Timms (East Ham) (Lab)
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What assessment has the Minister made of what I think is an increasingly compelling case, which is that if the Prime Minister is able, tomorrow or subsequently, to bring forward an agreement that may be acceptable to Parliament, parliamentary approval for it should be subject to ratification in a subsequent public vote?

Robin Walker Portrait Mr Walker
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The right hon. Gentleman makes a call for a subsequent public vote—a people’s vote. I am very clear that that is not something that this Government would ever support.