BREAK: Downing Street will not publish full Brexit legal advice, will only give MPs "full, reasoned position statement" ahead of vote.
Sets up a massive showdown with the House of Commons which passed a binding motion which called for "any legal advice in full" to be handed over.
Sets up a massive showdown with the House of Commons which passed a binding motion which called for "any legal advice in full" to be handed over.
Downing Street said it would honour a commitment made by David Lidington to give MPs a "full, reasoned position statement".
Crucially that is not what the motion which was passed demanded.
Looks like MPs will be given a summary of legal advice, not the actual legal advice.
Crucially that is not what the motion which was passed demanded.
Looks like MPs will be given a summary of legal advice, not the actual legal advice.
Pretty clear from this exchange that Number 10 has no intention of complying with the binding vote of the Commons on providing MPs with full Brexit legal advice before the meaningful vote. 
Government now officially on collision course with HoC.
As others have pointed out: John Bercow said the legal advice motion "is not just an expression of the opinion of the House; it is an expression of the will of the House that certain documents should be provided to it".
As others have pointed out: John Bercow said the legal advice motion "is not just an expression of the opinion of the House; it is an expression of the will of the House that certain documents should be provided to it".
Full take below.
@Keir_Starmer: "It's completely unacceptable for Number 10 to point-blank refuse to publish the full legal advice on the withdrawal agreement... Labour will use all the mechanisms available to force this information to be published."
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/…
@Keir_Starmer: "It's completely unacceptable for Number 10 to point-blank refuse to publish the full legal advice on the withdrawal agreement... Labour will use all the mechanisms available to force this information to be published."
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/…
The Government will argue this is about not setting a precedent for legal advice to be published and because it could make legal officers less inclined to be candid in the advice they give.
But I think it will make many MPs ask one question: What does the Govt have to hide?
But I think it will make many MPs ask one question: What does the Govt have to hide?
Philip Hammond confirms the Govt won't give MPs full Brexit legal advice.
"It would be impossible for Government to function if we create a precedent that the legal advice that the Government receives has to be made public."
"It would be impossible for Government to function if we create a precedent that the legal advice that the Government receives has to be made public."
