PM to Commons: we have made progress on Northern Ireland
PM: backstop intended to be an insurance policy, previously EU suggested that NI carved off with Irish Sea Customs Border ...
PM: EU has responded positively by agreeing to discuss a UK-wide solution...
EU says isn’t time to finalise this and want a backstop to the backstop for NI only...
Can’t agree to this, Commons has backed this unanimously (ERG amendment she accepted in July)
EU says isn’t time to finalise this and want a backstop to the backstop for NI only...
Can’t agree to this, Commons has backed this unanimously (ERG amendment she accepted in July)
PM: I want to be able to look British people in the eye and say backstop temporary
PM: I do not believe we and the EU are far apart
Corbyn: this feels like Groundhog Day, another “nothing has changed” moment, another Brexit minister shuffling over to Brussels, unable to do deals because of splits in the Conservative Party
Corbyn now using phrase “blindfold Brexit” to describe a deal with vague future partnership - as did First Minister of Scotland, and the “People’s Vote” campaign
Corbyn: the choice must never be between her deal and no deal, if this Government cannot get a good deal she must make way for those who can.
SNP’s Peter Grant calls for a change of plan and a move to a “damage limitation” Brexit in the Single Market and Customs Union
Boris Johnson says “in deciding to stay in the CU the Leader of the Opposition is guilty of a shameless U-turn” and “will the PM confirm that the very latest time the UK will take back control of our tariff schedules will be Dec 2020”... ?
I think the PM referred to December 2021 to Johnson, something that has been picked up by Brexit committee chair Benn “its a whole year after the end of the transition”...
Bigger point shes trying to get across - backstop should never be required to be used.
Bigger point shes trying to get across - backstop should never be required to be used.
Former Home Secretary Amber Rudd asks the PM to do a deal not just the 52%, but the 48% too, in fact everybody the 100%...
Bill Cash asks PM to acknowledge that if we continue to be treated by the EU in this way - “this country will be brought to a humiliating conclusion”... also says that we’ll have to pay billions more if implementation phase goes into 2021
Yvette Cooper asks PM to consider extending Article 50, PM says No
Anna soubry says there is complete chaos and Leave voters were promised a trade deal before we leave - says only way through is a People’s Vote...
PM says No, we’ve had a peoples vote in 2016
PM says No, we’ve had a peoples vote in 2016
Nigel Dodds asks very specifically that N Ireland wont be left either in customs union or in parts of single market...
Dodds facial expression seem unimpressed... PM then makes argument that NI will be able to export both to rest of UK and EU.
Important.
Dodds facial expression seem unimpressed... PM then makes argument that NI will be able to export both to rest of UK and EU.
Important.
PM: a Canada style deal is not available for the UK, only with NI carved out. Canada Deal does not deliver frictionless trade.
Justine Greening says the common rulebook will lead to an historic loss of sovereignty binding future generations to rules it can’t write. PM says there will be a Parliamentary lock.
Owen PAterson: what are the processes and arrangements in Ireland that require checks and cant be done with technology?
PM: “some involve equipment that could come under attack”.
Some involve surveillance that would be unacceptable in NI
PM: “some involve equipment that could come under attack”.
Some involve surveillance that would be unacceptable in NI
*** Dominic Grieve: “in no circumstances will I be able to back the government unless this is put to the people again” saying the Government’s solution bears no resemblance to what was put to Britain at the time of the referendum
Rees Mogg asks why it tool so long for EU to get message that leaving NI in the CU would be unacceptable and illegal
THIS is a really important historic debate - PM trying hard in difficult circumstances but majority for any deal appears to be disappearing before her eyes - under the cosh from most shades of opinion for a variety of different reasons, with concerted effort from peoples vote MPs
Oliver Heald suggests the PM sends Dominic Raab over the Channel regularly so he is fully behind the need to maintain frictionless trade
.. NB to be fair to Raab I think he is selling the PM’s plans to maintain a frictionless border as hard as he can
Apparently Government will adjourn Commons immediately after debate and statements - so no Knife crime bill as expected, pushed to next week
