This week, parliament has made clear that there is a majority for a route to leaving EU with a deal.
- A majority of MPs said they would support a deal with changes to the backstop, combined with measures to address concerns over parliament’s role in the negotiation of the future relationship and commitments on workers’ rights.
- We will now take this mandate forward and seek to obtain legally binding changes to the Withdrawal Agreement that deal with concerns on the backstop, while guaranteeing no return to a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.
- As the Prime Minister said, we acknowledge that there is limited appetite for such a change in the EU and negotiating it will not be easy. But in contrast to a fortnight ago, parliament has made it clear what it needs to approve this Withdrawal Agreement.
- The Prime Minister also reaffirmed her commitment to working with MPs from all parties to deliver on the referendum result and restore faith in our democracy.
Let’s be clear about the alternatives:
- Ruling out no deal – This week’s votes show that parliament does not want to leave without a Withdrawal Agreement and Future Framework. However, simply opposing no deal is not enough to stop it. The only way to rule out no deal is by Parliament approving a deal.
- Extending Article 50 – This is not ruling out no deal, but simply deferring the point of decision. The policy dilemmas, choices and trade-offs that face Parliament will not go away if we postpone exit day.
- A second referendum – The duty of politicians is to implement the result of the referendum, not suggest the public got it wrong. This would set a difficult precedent and undermine faith in democracy.
