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. Governments 'have not delivered enough for people'published at 16:43 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP Chuka UmunnaImage source, HoC

    Labour MP Chuka Umunna says that the Brexit deal does not represent the will of the House or the country and calls for a 'People's Vote'.

    He adds that the referendum was evenly balanced and no-one side "has a monopoly on grievance".

    Mr Umunna asks where trade deals promised by the leave campaign are and says we won't see any of them in March 2019.

    Mr Umunna says that immigration was a driving factor in the referendum "exploited in the most disgusting way".

    He tells the House that real underlying concerns such as jobs, affordable housing, school places and the NHS will not disappear.

    Ending free movement is not going to solve the problems we have as a country, he says.

    "Governments on both sides of this House have not delivered enough for people and that is the problem here, not immigration."

  2. Lord Howard calls for a no deal Brexitpublished at 16:34 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    EU Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord Howard of LympneImage source, HoC

    Former Tory leader Lord Howard of Lympne says "I am not a natural rebel", so he rejects the deal with a heavy heart. But he voted to leave because he wanted to take back control - the agreement "does the opposite of that".

    Article 50 allows the UK to leave the EU without permission, but under the backstop this ability would be gone.

    He asks why - if it's not in the interests of the EU to keep the UK in the backstop - they won't agree the principle of a time limit. People didn't vote to leave the EU to place the future of the country into the hands of a panel of arbitrators, he says.

    The government must accept that the deal is dead, and the UK should leave without a deal, he says. Agreements can be reached with the EU to minimise disruption.

  3. 'Any deal with backstop will not pass this House' - former chief whippublished at 16:33 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Mark HarperImage source, HoC

    Tory MP Mark Harper says he will not be able to support the withdrawal agreement as it is set out.

    "Goods going from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will be subject to a declaration process and I don’t find that acceptable," he adds.

    He says it is the first time in 13 years in this House that he will not be able to support his party.

    "It is important in politics that we keep our promises as that is how we maintain the trust of the British people," the former chief whip adds.

    He says the backstop "critically weakens our negotiating position" which will end up "with a very bad future relationship".

    "It is clear in the full legal advice given this morning that the backstop would endure indefinitely until a superseding agreement took place, with no mechanism enabling the UK to leave the customs union without a subsequent agreement either."

    He adds that "any deal with a backstop will not pass this House", and if Theresa May secures an agreement with no backstop "I will support her and the DUP will be back on side."

    Mr Harper says the £39bn payment to the EU should be "dependent on receiving a good deal in a timely fashion".

  4. Farron: 'To leave would be a tragic, tragic mistake'published at 16:32 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Tim Farron MPImage source, HoC

    Former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron says in a crisis "we need to act in the national interest" and that the UK is in a "short 100 day journey to no deal".

    Mr Farron accuses the prime minister of "hoodwinking" and adds that to repeat it is her deal or no deal, is "beneath her".

    He says the PM's deal "kicks the can down the road" but is "the opposite of taking back control."

    Tim Farron tells the House that voting for the deal does not respect the wishes of the British people or protect their interests.

    "I have never been more convinced that Britain's future must lie in Europe and to leave would be a tragic, tragic mistake."

  5. Brexit negotiations set up for failure - Gyimahpublished at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    Former cabinet minister Sam Gyimah says the prime minister's deal is "fatally flawed".

    Read More
  6. Attorney general statement 'political opinion, not legal'published at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    EU Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord GoldsmithImage source, HoL

    Former Labour attorney general Lord Goldsmith - whose advice over the invasion of Iraq was published - says he has some sympathy for Attorney General Geoffrey Cox.

    What Mr Cox gave to MPs however, "was not a legal opinon", he says, "it was a political opinion".

    The advice, which has now been published, "is revealing", he says.

    "It is now clear that certain of the makeway legal arguments made to suggest another conclusion are in fact without substance," he explains.

    Reliance had been placed on statements that the backstop was intended to be temporary, but in reality "it would endure indefinitely". The dispute resolution provisions were suggested to create a different situation, but it is clear now that this is not the case.

    Quote Message

    The gangplank of legal planks is simply a hologram, I'm not prepared to trust my or this country's weight to it, and I'd advise noble lords not to do so either."

  7. Fallon 'not convinced by second referendum'published at 16:05 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Michael Fallon, Conservative MPImage source, HoC

    Former defence minister Sir Michael Fallon says that Parliament should not be designing or redesign the deal but should "set the boundaries" and "express its view on the deal".

    The Conservative MP believes "no deal would be highly irresponsible" and no agreement on trade or security would be damaging to UK business interests.

    He is not convinced by a second referendum as he doesn't see "how a referendum could be decisive".

    And he calls the Political Declaration "completely vacuous".

    The Conservative MP says the declaration should include a backstop end date, a commitment to frictionless trade and an independent trade policy for the UK.

    He adds that a different regulatory framework in Northern Ireland should only be done with the continuing consent of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive.

  8. Reality Check: Legal advice on the Brexit dealpublished at 15:57 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    Chris Morris highlights some of the key points in the legal advice on the Withdrawal Agreement.

    Read More
  9. Backstop 'does not protect the Good Friday Agreement'published at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    EU Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord BewImage source, HoC

    "There is one great problem with the backstop," crossbench peer, professor of Irish politics and historian Lord Bew says.

    "It does not protect the Good Friday Agreement."

    The Agreement is based on a bottom up approach to north-south regulatory arrangements, he says, but the backstop is the opposite. It is based instead on a "top down imposition approach".

    "There is a huge gap between the Good Friday Agreement and the backstop. There is no avoiding it," he says.

  10. Labour MP: A no deal would be 'criminal'published at 15:48 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Labour MP Ronnie CampbellImage source, HoC

    Ronnie Campbell says his constituency voted to leave and he has been voting against Europe for 31 years.

    The Labour MP calls Europe calls bureaucratic and undemocratic, saying that a United States of Europe would be "disastrous" for the UK.

    "All immigration in this country has been cheap labour," he says.

    Mr Campbell says the treaty is here, but there are negotiations to do after it.

    Voting for a "no deal would be criminal", he adds and says "we will be in the backstop for donkeys"

    The MP says he doesn't believe in referendums but he is afraid there might be one if the Parliament cannot agree.

    "Interesting times," he concludes.

  11. 'Extraordinary that there has been no alternative to EU membership set out'published at 15:41 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    EU Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord Wallace of SaltaireImage source, HoL

    Liberal Democrat Lord Wallace of Saltaire says "British sovereignty cannot be absolute in an overpopulated and independent world", whilst the economy has grown increasingly interdependent on other countries.

    "It is extraordinary that a Conservative party that used to stand for a strong British foreign policy has failed to spell out any coherent alternative in our international role."

  12. PM 'should be ready to extend Article 50'published at 15:41 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Yvette Cooper, Labour MPImage source, HoC

    Labour's Yvette Cooper says the prime minister's deal is a "stopgap" and the UK does not know what the immigration, trade or security arrangements will be with the EU.

    "Most things have not been agreed at all," she adds.

    The chair of the Home Affairs Committee says that depending on the paragraph of the Political Declaration the UK could be "nearly Norway, it could be back to Chequers, it could be off to Canada, it could be far beyond."

    Ms Cooper says that, in terms of security arrangements, MPs should not be voting for things that would make us less safe.

    If arrangements are not agreed, "we will lose vital capabilities", says the MP

    Yvette Cooper calls on the prime minister to be ready to request an extension of Article 50 if the deal is rejected by Parliament.

  13. Tory MP: 'Sovereignty giveaway alone makes deal unacceptable'published at 15:24 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Justine GreeningImage source, HoC

    Tory MP Justine Greening says "the deal is not a practical result for Britain, it means rules without having a say."

    Ms Greening says "the sovereignty giveaway alone makes this deal unacceptable for Britain," and adds that she is "greatly concerned" about the undermining of the Good Friday Agreement and "worries about the backstop".

    She calls the deal "inoperable" and adds that "the deal is like moving out of your house without having any idea about where you're going to live next."

    Justine Greening says "overwhelmingly" her constituency do not support the deal and therefore she cannot support it.

    "This is not delivering on the referendum," she says. "The only way out of gridlock may be going back to the people."

    Ms Greening says it is "not democratically viable" to push through a Brexit the people do not want, adding "a referendum is one of the ways we could enable millions of people to have their say properly and should be put on the table".

  14. Second referendum 'cannot be a vote for the status quo'published at 15:19 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    EU Withdrawal Agreement statement

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord LiddleImage source, hoL

    Labour's Lord Liddle says the EU is offering tariff free access in the political declaration, but that is not the frictionless trade on which manufacturers rely.

    "Is a better exit deal possible?" he asks. "I'm a bit of a sceptic as to whether it can be done now."

    He says people should have called for the Norway option sooner.

    The choice comes down to 'no deal' or a referendum, with a clear choice to remain. But he warns that "this next referendum cannot simply be a vote for the status quo."

    "It's got to be a vote for a new deal for the left behind in Britain, and a vote for real reform in Europe."

  15. SNP: Scottish devolved institutions have been 'wholly ignored'published at 15:17 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    SNP MP Joanna CherryImage source, HoC

    The SNP's Joanna Cherry says the prime minister has made some "pretty major concessions" on the Brexit deal.

    The home affairs spokesperson says the UK "could be trapped in the backstop permanently" and adds that Northern Ireland will see fishing preferential treatment.

    Ms Cherry says Scotland did not vote for Brexit, yet Scots will lose their right as EU citizens.

    The deal will "see us poorer", economically as well as socially, she says.

    She tells the House that migration is "vital" to fill employment gaps in Scotland.

    She calls for an immigration policy that is "evidence based" and that takes account of the needs of the economy.

    Joanna Cherry asks why the government has not produced an immigration white paper and why the prime minister insists on her "ridiculous" net migration target.

    Under the Withdrawal Agreement, she says, EU citizens in the UK will not have the "same" rights and will have no protection from "inadvertently becoming undocumented illegal citizens".

    "The legitimate concerns of the Scottish government and Parliament have been wholly ignored," says the SNP MP. "We can really only look on in envy as the concerns of Ireland have been centre stage in Brussels."

    She concludes that if there is a second Brexit referendum, and England votes again to leave whilst Scotland votes to stay, there will have to be a second independence referendum.

  16. Brexit debate 'about self determination and self respect'published at 15:12 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    EU Withdrawal Agreement statement

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Baroness DeechImage source, HoL

    Crossbencher Baroness Deech says the Brexit debate is not just about the economy.

    "It is about the recovery of self determination and self respect, democratic governance, the rule of law and human rights." All of these have been under attack by the European Union, she says.

    The deal prioritises European survival and is unbalanced in their favour, she adds.

    That is not acceptable. It does not protect the interests of Northern Ireland, and actually makes NI "subject to Dublin's influence". It strengthens the case for unification and weakens the democratic freedoms of the Northern Irish people, she says.

    A clean break might be better than this agreement, she says.

  17. Deal 'not right for this country and for this time'published at 14:48 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    EU Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord EmpeyImage source, HoC

    Former Ulster Unionist Party leader Lord Empey says the concerns that many are expressing about Brexit were not expressed at the time, even though some could have been foreseen.

    "Complaining now that the rules should be changed after the match is over does not fall well, when it was us that let it take place."

    The debate on both sides was poor, with "grossly exaggerated" claims on both sides. Since then, the issue of the Irish border has also been grossly exaggerated. The deal reached is unacceptable as it could trap the UK in the backstop, he says.

    "While I understand some people get bored with [Brexit], it may be on the table but it is not the right deal for this country and this time."

  18. Ex universities minister: Brexit negotiations 'set up for failure'published at 14:44 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Sam GyimahImage source, HoC

    Tory MP Sam Gyimah, who resigned from his role as universities, science and research minister on Friday, says "it is with a sense of trepidation" that he speaks from the backbenches for the first time in six years.

    He congratulates his successor Chris Skidmore, and says he resigned as "the deal is not politically or practically deliverable, will make us poorer and risks the union."

    "Before being leavers and remainers we are British, but what is in front of us is a deal in name only," he says. "This deal is like shoes that have holes in the soles - it is fundamentally flawed."

    Mr Gyimah says the negotiations were "set up for failure" as the EU "were in complete control", and that under the current deal, the UK "will be losing and not taking control of our destiny".

    "What is most likely to happen is that we will be given a free trade agreement dictated to us by the EU," he says.

    He adds "we are at the foothills of a long an arduous process" and that "Brexit will not be over as a result of the vote next week."

    Mr Gyimah says there is not a majority for any option in Parliament "which is why I suggested we go back to the people" and that "the national interest is not served by the government's motion."

  19. Abbott: Brexit deal leading UK 'off a cliff on security matters'published at 14:41 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Shadow Home Secretary Diane AbbottImage source, HoC

    Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott says that after yesterday there is "little doubt that this is indeed a botched Brexit".

    Ministers should be "ashamed" they had to be compelled to comply with a motion of this House, she adds.

    Ms Abbott says that there was nothing in the legal advice that compromises the national interest - "embarrassing for the government maybe".

    Labour support the referendum result, she tells the House, adding there were long-standing concerns over sovereignty.

    "Nobody would deny that concerns about migration was not far from the minds of some if not all leave voters" says the shadow home secretary.

    Diane Abbott calls the prime minister's deal a "blindfold Brexit" on security, that is at worst leading the UK "off a cliff on security matters".

    She adds the current level of cooperation with the EU would require a new security treaty which is not an "express aim" in the exit document.

    Without a treaty, Ms Abbott says, courts have no legal basis to implement arrest or extradition warrants, and without a treaty the EU cannot allow access to criminal databases.

    "The level of cooperation between the UK and the EU, post-Brexit, could be severely and unavoidably downgraded," she contends.

  20. Labour peer calls for 'orderly no deal' Brexitpublished at 14:35 Greenwich Mean Time 5 December 2018

    EU Withdrawal Agreement Debate

    House of Lords
    Parliament

    Lord Howarth of NewportImage source, HoC

    Labour's Lord Howarth of Newport says it is wrong to suggest that the demand to take back control was a mask for "ugly attitudes towards immigration".

    "Yes, there are racist xenophobes among those that voted leave," he says, but nobody can believe that they make up any more than a minority of the 17.4 million people that voted not to remain in the EU.

    The decision was driven by sovereignty, he says. It does not follow that if you want to extract yourself from the "undemocratic structures of the European Union", you are "illiberal or insular". If immigration was the issue, Brexiteers would be backing the agreement, but they do not as it doesn't return sovereignty to the UK.

    There is an "orderly no deal" option that can be arranged, he says, and this should be considered. The difference between this and the prime minister's deal is "just 1.5% of GDP".

    "No deal need not be a catastrophe...it need not mean crashing out."