Summary

  • MPs continued debating the government's Brexit deal, ahead of vote next Tuesday

  • Thursday's debate focused on the economic impact of the agreement

  • Commons business began with questions to Brexit ministers

  • House of Lords also debated the Brexit deal this afternoon

  1. Vince Cable: 'No deal must not be an option'published at 21:39 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Vince CableImage source, HoC

    Leader of the Liberal Democrats Vince Cable says the Liberal Democrats will table an amendment endorsing Labour's amendment, but adding the phrase "to provide the option of a People's Vote".

    Vince Cable says "there are overwhelming arguments to remain in the EU, but the fundamental point is the impact of our living standards."

    "We are already seeing the stifling of business investment and the decline of productivity," he says.

    He says the option of a no deal "is put down by the government to threaten us, and we must stand up and reject it".

    "No deal must not be an option," he adds "the people must decide as now they are more informed."

  2. Tory MP: EU 'wasteful - but provides more security'published at 21:30 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sir Roger GaleImage source, HoC

    Tory MP Sir Roger Gale says he believes the EU is "wasteful" but he "voted remain because I believe my children and grandchildren would be better off in the EU to gain more security."

    He says he believes it is "right, and my duty to support the withdrawal agreement, as this is the wish of the people".

    Sir Roger Gale adds that the prime minister was correct that the EU will want more concessions if the deal is taken back to be negotiated.

    "A hard Brexit will be immensely damaging," he says. "I believe I owe it to my constituents to vote for the withdrawal agreement, get behind it, and let this great country move forwards."

  3. Political declaration 'problem with this deal'published at 21:29 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Hilary BennImage source, HoC

    Labour MP and Chair of Exiting the EU Committee Hilary Benn says "the plague of disagreements in the Cabinet has left the UK boxed in" in terms of Brexit negotiations.

    Mr Benn says "now is the time for honesty" and that "if we wish to maintain an open border in Northern Ireland we will be staying in the customs union"; however, he notes that "no minister wants to admit to that".

    He adds that the problem with this deal is the political declaration, which is "words and aspirations which have no legal force".

    "There is no clarity and no idea where we're going, and for businesses who need certainty, what kind of deal is that?" he questions.

    Mr Benn says "no responsible government would allow this country to leave the EU with no deal, but no deal has to be kept alive as the bogeyman to keep the prime minister's deal in play."

  4. 'I will not vote for something that leaves my constituents poorer'published at 21:16 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Anna SoubryImage source, HoC

    Conservative MP Anna Soubry says the great failure of Brexit was the inability to reach out to both sides of the debate and unite the country.

    "I will not vote on this deal on any other basis than that it goes to the people for their approval. It is not a good deal," she says.

    The political declaration and agreement are "nothing more than warm words of good intentions" and will leave people worse off.

    "I will not vote for something that makes my constituents poorer," she says.

  5. Brexit deal 'would see the end of UK manufacturing'published at 21:09 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Dame Margaret BeckettImage source, HoC

    Former Labour foreign secretary Dame Margaret Beckett says she initially accepted the result of the referendum, but the handling of the situation has changed that view.

    "It's hard to negotiate successfully if you can't agree what you want, willfully throw away your negotiating ability and sack people who disagree with you," she says.

    Since Article 50 was triggered, more and more has emerged about the realities of Brexit, the consequences of which she says she did not fully understand before the referendum, despite 11 years in the Cabinet.

    She was "appalled" by announcements that the UK would leave the single market and the customs union, and that these were the prime minister's red lines. The consequences of this would see the end of UK manufacturing, she says.

    She understands that business want the certainty that the deal would provide, but she points out this short term support is not a commitment to invest or stay in Britain.

    The very future of the country is at stake, yet there has been a "determined effort" to keep people in the dark. Sovereignty was promised by Leavers, but the deal represents the biggest ever hand over of sovereignty in British history, she says.

  6. Assembly votes to reject PM's Brexit dealpublished at 20:56 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

    Assembly members reject Theresa May's Brexit agreement with the EU, in a symbolic Senedd vote.

    Read More
  7. Brexit: read more from the BBCpublished at 20:51 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

    An anti-Brexit demonstratorImage source, Reuters

    There are many different aspects to today's events in Parliament, and to the unfolding story of Brexit.

    To find out more, take a look at some of these BBC stories and guides:

  8. Businesses 'more concerned by Labour government' than Brexitpublished at 20:49 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sir Graham BradyImage source, HoC

    Senior Conservative MP Sir Graham Brady says the prime minister has enormous good will on both sides of the Commons, and is correct when she says the country wants to move on.

    Businesses are far more concerned about the idea of a Jeremy Corbyn government than Brexit, he adds.

    However, he says many MPs are concerned at the idea of the UK leaving a treaty which they can exit at any time, only to agree one which they cannot.

    He urges the prime minister and the government to to redouble their efforts to give real reassurance that the UK could leave the backstop, if it were to be entered.

  9. SNP 'will bring forward an amendment' to EU withdrawal motionpublished at 20:48 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Ian BlackfordImage source, HoC

    SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford says Scotland has benefited from membership of the European Union and the values of the organisation have "united, not divided our society". They should have been respected and protected.

    The European Union has been the greatest peace project of our lifetime, he says, and as such he speaks today with a heavy heart. He wishes the debate was not happening.

    He says he is sad that the opportunities EU membership have presented to UK citizens will not be available to children in future. The right to live and work across the EU will be removed for the next generation. The benefits of free movement has enriched so many of us, he says.

    "We must stop this madness. We can go back to the people of these islands and explain the realities of Brexit...We can hit the reset button."

    The SNP support remaining in the EU as there is no deal better than continued membership, he explains. He predicts that Brexit will lead to an independent Scotland.

    Scotland voted to remain, yet he says the UK government has no interest in respecting that and ignore the Scottish government, who have "come together against a damaging Brexit".

    "It is a democratic outrage that Scotland is being dragged out of the European Union against its will," he says. The SNP will bring forward an amendment to ensure that the voice of Scotland is well and truly heard.

  10. 'Makes a mockery of Brexit'published at 20:31 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

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  11. Boris Johnson: Deal 'national humiliation which makes mockery of Brexit'published at 20:05 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Boris JohnsonImage source, HoC

    Tory MP Boris Johnson says "even the government's hearts are not in this deal as they know it is a democratic disaster".

    He says the deal is "a national humiliation which makes a mockery of Brexit" which will not see the UK take back control of its borders, or allow the country to make free trade deals.

    "We are going to be a de facto colony," he says. "We will never be able to take advantage of the freedoms we should have won through Brexit."

    He says "this is not Brexit, this is a paint and plaster psuedo-Brexit with the same EU institutions behind the camouflage", adding that "we are losing control not taking back control."

    "This deal is worse than turkeys voting for Christmas," he adds, reiterating that he hopes Parliament votes down this deal next Tuesday.

    Mr Johnson calls for the prime minister to return to Brussels, saying "there are plenty of other options, but believing the backstop is essential for further progress is nonsensical."

  12. Can the government avoid Brexit defeat?published at 19:33 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

    It may be that the Commons does not even get to the crunch vote on the government's motion next Tuesday.

    Read More
  13. Corbyn says he's 'perfectly happy' to debate PM on TVpublished at 19:33 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Jeremy CorbynImage source, HoC

    After an intervention asking why he won't be debating the prime minister on Sunday, Jeremy Corbyn said he was was "perfectly happy" to debate her.

    She wasn't willing to debate him during the 2017 general election campaign however, he points out.

    Mr Corbyn says that if the government can't govern or command a majority - as they have shown today and would show again if they are defeated in the meaningful vote next week - they should resign and call a general election.

    The deal is not good for the UK, he says.

    It is the first time the UK has signed up to a treaty from which it cannot withdraw unilaterally. The commitments to workers' rights, environmental protections and consumer safeguards are very far from guaranteed, he says.

  14. Corbyn: May should have changed course last yearpublished at 19:11 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Jeremy CorbynImage source, HoC

    Responding to Theresa May, Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn says her "botched" Brexit deal is a result of "two years of botched negotiations".

    He says the PM could have "recognised" the change to the parliamentary arithmetic after she lost her majority in the election last year, and sought a deal that worked for a majority of MPs.

    He says ministers know that leaving without a deal is "not a serious option", and accuses them of not preparing properly for it in any case.

  15. PM: Worth taking a moment on how we got herepublished at 19:04 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

    After the government is ruled to be in contempt of Parliament over its Brexit advice, Theresa May opens a debate on the EU withdrawal agreement.

    Read More
  16. May promises to 'consult more widely' with MPspublished at 18:55 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    "The next stage of negotiations will involve a greater role for Parliament", Theresa May tells MPs.

    She pledges: "the government will consult more widely with Parliament and members will be more involved in the process."

    Theresa May accuses Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn of "playing party politics" and "pushing for a general election instead of putting the country first".

    "The way to stop no deal is to support the deal that is on the table," she adds.

    "We have already spent too long going round in circles and we must now take this country forwards.

    "We should not contemplate a course that fails to respect the result of the referendum - because it would decimate the trust of millions of people in our politics for a generation."

  17. May: EU says 'this is the deal'published at 18:47 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Theresa MayImage source, HoC

    On the Irish 'backstop' plan, Theresa May says an "insurance policy" is needed, adding: "put simply - no backstop means no deal".

    Under her deal, she says, both the UK and EU have committed to use "best endeavours" to avoid the backstop, and says it can be replaced by "alternative arrangements" if not ready in time.

    She also says the backstop "could not return" if a future Parliament decided to agree a looser trading relationship than that envisaged in her deal.

    She says the EU has made clear that "this is the deal" - and warns that if negotiations were reopened, the EU could potentially change the terms too, "on issues such as fisheries".

    "It is not the one-way street that perhaps honourable members wish it to be", she adds.

  18. DUP leader: We'd be happy to face voterspublished at 18:38 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Nigel DoddsImage source, HoC

    In an intervention, Independent MP Lady Sylvia Hermon says the DUP, who backed leaving the EU, do not represent the majority in Northern Ireland, which was to remain.

    Responding with his own intervention, DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds says he respects the referendum result "across the United Kingdom".

    He adds that he would be "quite happy" to put the views of people in Northern Ireland "to a test anytime".

    "We will happily go to the electorate, and put our views to the people if needs be", he adds.

    "I'm quite certain that we'd be returned in greater numbers than we are today".

  19. PM: Second referendum 'would exacerbate divisions'published at 18:15 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Theresa MayImage source, HoC

    Theresa May says the government's deal "allows a good relationship with Europe but for the UK to make wider trade deals too".

    She adds that it also ensures a fair settlement of the UK's financial obligations and "provides stability for businesses".

    "A second referendum would exacerbate divisions in this country," she says.

    "It is the duty of this Parliament to deliver on the result of the vote that the British people gave in 2016."

  20. Bad day the office?published at 18:05 Greenwich Mean Time 4 December 2018

    Telegraph political editor tweets

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