“What I saw, over the last week and a half to two weeks, makes it very, very difficult for someone like me to support this deal.”
“What’s proposed would leave Britain with all of the duties, costs and obligations of membership, but with no voice, no vote and no veto.”
Troublingly, such concerns are the basis for the most unpopular provisions in the Withdrawal Agreement.
My conversations with Party members and constituents have provided an almost consistent message that the Prime Minister should be supported.
Opposing this proposal serves only to help those who wish to undermine our desire to respect the referendum result. It is only by being united that we can fight them off.
We set five tests for it. Does this draft agreement pass them? And does it really take back control of our borders, laws and money?
“No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control… nor the ability to decide to exit”.
I am deeply disappointed by the path that the Prime Minister has chosen. It seems to be the very opposite of what the British people voted for.
Perhaps the Prime Minister will secure Parliament’s approval. But if she does not, the Conservative Party must choose a direction quickly.
Losing both them and the DUP will send a very strong signal to every Conservative MP about its implications for the Union.
She dodges a direct question on whether Parliament with have the sovereign right to withdraw unilaterally from any backstop.
Not a lot, yet – but the two fundamental things we do know already provide cause for Eurosceptic concern.
“Unlike the previous political declarations, the scope for delay, fudge or obscurantist language has passed. This is now a time for clarity and plain speaking.”
Instead of leaving the Customs Union but retaining chunks of the Single Market – we shall end up staying in the Customs Union but leaving most of the Single Market.