29/03/2017 House of Commons

most recently on the attack last Wednesday. We should not forget that

day in day out emergency services work on our behalf and often put

themselves in danger as a result. I have kept in touch as has my right

honourable friend the Home Secretary with the security services and

Metropolitan Police on the investigation taking place into the

attack last week and I am looking forward to security arrangements and

I can assure him they have the resources they need to carry out

vital work. Of course we all pay tribute to the police for the work

they do but there are some problems that between 2015 and 2018 there

will be a real terms cut in central government funding to police forces

of 330 million. Can the Prime Minister assure the house the police

all over the country have the necessary resources to do the job? I

would remind him that what we have done is protected that police budget

and of course the former Shadow Home Secretary, his colleague, the right

honourable member, prior to the... At the Labour Party conference said

savings can be found. The police say 5-10% is just about doable. We have

protected the police budget. I have been speaking to police forces and

they are cleared the work they are doing has the resources they need.

The Police Federation survey recently undertaken reveals that 55%

of serving police officers say morale is low due to the way in

which funding has been treated. Front line policing is vital in

tackling crime and terrorism. Since 2010, there are 20,000 fewer police

officers, 12,000 fewer on the front line. I asked the Prime Minister

again, will she think again about the cuts and guaranteed policing on

the front line will be protected so every community can be assured it

has the officers it needs in their community? I said we have protected

those police budgets including of course the precepts they raise

locally. Let's think about what has happened since 2010. Since 2010 we

have seen crime is traditionally measured by the independent crime

survey falling by a third to a record low, and that is the work of

hard-working officers up and down this country. They have been backed

by this government. We have made them more accountable through

directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners and there has been

reform, including reform of the Police Federation that was

necessary, but we have ensured police have resources to do their

job and we see crime at a record low. The Royal air forces preparing

to fly typhoons from my constituency to Romania, to support Nato allies

on the border with Russia. This is as President Putin is locking up

political opponents and crushing calls for democracy. Will my right

honourable friend confirm that as we leave the EU, the United Kingdom

will continue to lead Nato in defending this vital border, and

will she paid tribute to the Armed Forces who safeguard our democracy

at home and abroad? I am very happy to join my honourable friend in

paying tribute to the men and women of our Armed Forces, they are the

best in the world and they worked tirelessly to keep us safe and we

open every gratitude. Our commitment to collective defence and security

through Nato is as strong as ever. We will meet our pledge to spend 2%

of GDP wand expense every year of the decade and we plan to spend 178

billion on equipment. She referred to work done by the Royal Air Force

in relation to Romania. With Nato we deploy a battalion to Estonia and

squadron to Poland and I think that shows our commitment to our

collective security and defence. We associate ourselves with the

condolences of the Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party and

praise for the emergency and security services. After the

appalling terrorist atrocity. Last year, the Prime Minister promised

before she would trigger Article 50 on leaving the EU, she would secure

a UK wide approach and agreement... Last year the Prime Minister did

make that promise and promised there would be agreement with the

governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland before triggering

Article 50. The Prime Minister has now triggered Article 50 and she has

done so without an agreement. There is no agreement. Why has she broken

her promise and her word? I have been clear throughout and since the

first visit that I made as Prime Minister to Edinburgh last July,

which was we would work with the devolved administrations and develop

a UK wide approach but in negotiations it would be a UK

approach taken into the negotiations and it would be the United Kingdom

government that took forward that position and I would remind him that

Scotland is part of the United Kingdom. People will note the Prime

Minister did not deny she would seek a UK wide approach and agreement

with the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and there

is no agreement. The Scottish Government was elected with a higher

percentage of the vote with a bigger electoral mandate than the UK

Government. Yesterday the Scottish Parliament voted by 69 to 59 that

people in Scotland should have a choice about their future. After the

negotiations with the EU are concluded, there will be a period

for democratic approval of the outcome. That choice will be

exercised in this Parliament, in the European Parliament, and in 27

member states of the EU. Given that everybody else will have a choice...

Will the people of Scotland have a choice... ? I say to the right

honourable gentleman that we are taking forward the views of the

United Kingdom into the negotiations with the European Union on the

United Kingdom exiting the European Union. The Scottish Nationalist

party consistently talks... Order! This is unseemly heckling. You are a

distinguished QC. You would not behave like that in the Scottish

courts. You would be chucked out. Prime Minister. The SNP consistently

talks about independence as the only subject they wish to talk about. I

said to him and his colleagues that now is not the time to be talking

about a second independence referendum. On today of all days, we

should be coming together as a United Kingdom to get the best deal

for Britain. Improving vocational and technical

education is vital to closing our productivity gap so can the Prime

Minister assure me vocational education will enjoy equal status

with academic education so that as we leave the EU, our young people

can be equipped to build the high skilled economy of the future? My

honourable friend has raised an important issue. It is essential for

young people we give vocational and technical education the right esteem

and focus because it is essential in addressing the productivity gap. We

want to deliver a world leading technical education system to create

genuine options that are equal in esteem, two options for young people

in esteem. In the budget, the Chancellor announced a significant

package of investment to represent the most ambitious post-16 reform

since the introduction of A-levels. We will invest an extra half ?1

billion in Ingham's technical education and introduce maintenance

loans or those studying high-level technical qualifications at

institutes of technology. The Treasury Select Committee says that

having to fill in a tax return every three months means that many smaller

companies face disaster. The Federation of small business says

the extra cost is likely to be annually ?2700 a year. This is

another burden on business from this government. She got it wrong on

national Insurance, is she going to backtrack now on tax returns, as

well? Perhaps the honourable gentleman

should have listened to the announcement the Chancellor made in

the budget where he indicated he would be delaying the introduction

of this for the smallest businesses below the VAT threshold for a year.

But I think it is right that HMRC does try to move to a greater

digitisation of the way in which it operates. I think that will enable

it to give a better service to those people who are completing their

forms, and we should always remember that aspect of what is being

proposed. I welcome the additional money the Government has given for

adult social care, but it is important we also look at long-term

solutions for the. Will the Prime Minister look at issues with how the

system works with Northampton county council and Northampton General

Hospital? I say to my honourable friend but I'm grateful that he is

welcome for the extra money, the ?2 billion going to social care and out

by the Chancellor. This shows we have recognised the pressures and

demands on social care, but it is also important that we ensure best

practice is delivered across the whole of the country, it isn't just

about money, so we are trying to find a long-term sustainable

solution which will help local authorities to learn from each other

and raise standards across the system, and we will bring forward

proposals in a green paper later this year to put the state funded

system on a more sustainable and long-term footing. As Home

Secretary, the Prime Minister clearly didn't protect police

budgets. Last week she told me four times, we have protected the schools

budget. Does she still stand by that statement? We have protected schools

budgets, and we are putting record funding into schools. Today, Mr

Speaker, the Public Accounts Committee says the Department of

Education that it does not seem to understand the pressures that

schools are already under. And they went on to say that funding per

pupil is reducing in real terms, and goes on to say schools budgets will

be cut by ?3 billion, equivalent to 8%, by 2020. Is the Public Accounts

Committee wrong on this? What we see over the course of this Parliament

is ?230 billion going into our schools. But what matters is the

quality of education that we see in our schools. 1.8 million more

children in good or outstanding schools, and a policy from this

Government to ensure that every child gets a good school plays. Mr

Speaker, the daily experience of many parents who have children in

schools is that they get letters from the schools asking for money.

One parent, Elizabeth, wrote to me to say she has received a letter

from her daughter's school asking for a monthly donation to top up the

reduced funds that her school is receiving. This Government's cuts to

schools are betraying a generation of our children. If the Prime

Minister is right, then the parents are wrong, the teachers are wrong,

the IFF is wrong, the National Audit Office is wrong, the education

policy Institute is wrong and now the Public Accounts Committee, which

includes eight Conservative members in it, is also wrong. So which

organisation does back the Prime Minister's view on education

spending in our schools? I would say to the right honourable gentleman

that as I have just said to him, we said we would protect school

funding, and we have. A real terms protection for the schools budget.

We said we would protect the money following children into schools, and

we have, it reaches ?42 billion as pupil numbers rise in 19/ 20. But it

is also about the quality of education children are receiving.

1.8 million more children in good or outstanding schools than under the

Labour government. But I also say this, because time and time again,

the gentleman stands up in PMQs and asks questions which would lead to

more spending. Let's look at what he has done recently. On the 11th of

January, more spending. On the 8th of February, more spending. On the

22nd of February, more spending. On the first and the 8th of March, more

spending. On the 15th and 22nd of March, more spending. Barely a PMQs

goes by that he doesn't call for more public spending. When it comes

to spending money that they haven't got, Labour simply can't help

themselves. It's the same old Labour, spend today and give

somebody else the Bill tomorrow. Well, we won't do that to the next

generation. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I'm sure

everyone in the House will want to join me in paying tribute to the

thousands who worked in munitions factories in both world wars. Often

in very dangerous conditions. And they produced a vital equipment for

the Armed Forces that helped us to victory. I'm sure my honourable

friend will recognise that for practical reasons it is not possible

to pursue individual awards, but I know that the Department for

Business would be happy to work with him to look at further ways to

recognise the collective effort of former munitions workers. I thank my

right honourable friend for that answer. These ladies found that the

chemicals in the shells turned their skins yellow, and they were

nicknamed canary girls. I know my right honourable friend is

exceptionally busy at the moment, but could she find just a few

moments in her diary to meet me and some of these canary girls to

recognise their service? I would be very happy to do that. I would be

very happy to meet some canary girls. As I said, they did work

which was vital to the war effort. They did work which in one sense was

absolutely routine, but in another sense was extremely dangerous, and I

think we should recognise the efforts that they put in. Thank you,

Mr Speaker. The Prime Minister will be aware that the Welsh Labour

government has established a children's funeral fund. Many

leading funeral providers have also indicated that there will be no

charges for children and young people's funerals. I know the Prime

Minister is a compassionate woman, and I know she understands the

importance of a children's funeral fund. Will she agree to work with me

to establish this fund to bring some comfort to bereaved parents in their

darkest hour? I pay tribute to the honourable lady who has been

campaigning tirelessly on this issue, and obviously it is not just

a passionate campaign, but she has spoken on many occasions moving in

this House about her personal experience which she has brought to

bear on this issue. I welcome the decision taken by the co-operative

funeral company to waive the fees on this. There is some financial

support available, we are looking at this issue on the problems faced by

parents, and at what more can be done through a cross government

piece of work, and I ask the Minister for the Cabinet office who

is meeting on that piece of work to meet with us and talk about the

idea. As the Prime Minister will know, the budget gave an extra ?200

million to the Welsh Labour government in order to provide

business rate relief. Will the Prime Minister agree with myself and the

leader of Monmouthshire council that Welsh Labour must now commit to

spending that money on supporting Welsh businesses and giving the same

level of support that has been provided in England by this

conservative Government? I say to my honourable friend he is absolutely

right. As he said at the budget, my right honourable friend the

Chancellor announced a ?200 million boost to the Welsh budget. They will

be able to use that money to support their own priorities, but the people

of Wales can send a clear signal about these priorities by voting for

Conservative councillors like Peter Fox on the 4th of May. And I have to

say it is the UK Government actions to support working families

throughout the country that will make sure Wales benefits. The

Foreign Secretary jury be EU referendum campaign urged people to,

and I quote, take back control of huge sums of money, ?350 million per

week, and spend it on our priorities such as the NHS. The Prime Minister

will trigger article 50 today. Can the Prime Minister confirm precisely

when she wants to fulfil the promise made by her Cabinet colleagues who

is sitting on the front page smirking at the British public?

Order, order, Boris is sitting perfectly comfortably, there is an

air of repose about the fellow! Prime Minister.

I am very happy to tell the honourable lady that when this

country leaves the European Union, we will have control of our budget

and we will decide how that money is spent. With modification, schools in

my constituency welcome the National funding formula, and given the

Leader of the Opposition's intervention, I hope my next

question doesn't land me on the naughty step, but given that

Stockport schools and other schools have been at the bottom of the

funding pile for years, and have less scope for efficiencies, would

my right honourable friend consider giving immediate support to them? As

my honourable friend is saying, what we are doing is aiming to end the

postcode lottery of schools funding, and schools funding is at a record

high. In relation to the minimum funding level, as I have said

before, the DFE have heard representations on the issue on this

national funding formula and will be considering those. There have been a

lot of responses to that, but it is a historic and complex reform but

there has been general agreement for many years that reform is needed, we

want to get this right which is why we are carefully considering it.

After nine months of this Prime Minister's approach to Brexit,

Northern Ireland is deadlocked, the Welsh are alienated, Scotland is

going for a referendum, the English are split down the middle and Brexit

MPs are walking out of Commons committees because they don't like

home truths. Has the Prime Minister considered in terms of invoking

Article 50 that now is not the time? What the UK Government is doing in

invoking article 50 is putting into practice the Democratic vote of the

British people on the 23rd of June last year in a referendum. There was

a referendum in 2014 in Scotland when the Scottish people voted to

remain part of the United Kingdom. I suggest The right honourable

gentleman and his colleagues put that into practice! Mr Speaker,

three quarters of my constituent Umag voted to leave the European

Union. Does the Prime Minister agree with me that as she triggers article

50, it marks a watershed moment, not only for this country's control of

immigration and our sovereignty, but also for listening to the views of

people who were forgotten for far too long? I absolutely agree with my

honourable friend. Not only are we putting into place the views of the

British people as set out in that referendum on the 23rd of June last

year, but crucially that was not just a vote about leaving the EU. It

was a vote about changing this country for the future, and this

Government has a clear plan for Britain that will change this

country, that will see us with a more global outlook, a stronger

economy, a fairer society and a more united nation. The people expect the

Prime Minister to follow her party's manifesto and abide by a majority

vote of this Parliament. So why does she say that the First Minister of

Scotland should do the opposite? What I say is that at this point in

time Dodge at this point in time as we face this historic moment of

facing Article 50 and this country's relationship with the European

Union, now is the time for us to pull together and not, part. On

Friday, thousands of people will be up and down this country raising

funds and awareness of brain tumour research. Many of these people will

know people someone who have suffered from a brain tumour. It is

a bigger cancer killer of children and adults under 40. Will the Prime

Minister join me in commending all these people raising awareness and

funds and see what more we can do to raise funding for brain tumour

research? This is an important area, and I believe in this area the UK

does have a good record of research on brain tumours, and that is

important, but he is absolutely right. The people who are raising

funds for this important cause should be commended, as he says many

of them will have had personal experience in one way or another of

brain tumours, and I think it is important that we recognise that

there are many killers out there which don't often receive the

publicity and support of others, and we should recognise their

importance, and commend those who are raising funds.

Can the Prime Minister said what she is doing to ensure national and

local government prioritise the purchasing and buying of British

goods and services, although the Home Secretary on police vehicles,

does not give us cause for optimism. We have been encouraging the

procurement of British goods and services. He asked what we can do

for local authorities, if people want local authorities to take their

best interests to heart, they should vote Conservative. Can I ask... I

congratulate the Prime Minister and invoking Article 50. Does she agree

this needs to be the end of the phoney war and posturing and focus

now on the detail for every industry, centre and community to

get a bespoke deal we can all get behind? I agree with my honourable

friend. Now is the time to come together and be united across this

House and country to ensure we work for the best deal for the United

Kingdom and best future for us all. The Prime Minister has rightly

emphasised her determination to deliver for all constituent parts of

the United Kingdom on this historic day and while others are content to

moan, we want to see that delivery happen and we are confident she will

make that happen. In Northern Ireland, where some have walked away

from responsibilities in terms of devolution, we want devolution up

and running to have a functioning government and we have set no

preconditions. If others continue to stay away from devolution and walk

away, will she pledged to work more closely with those of us in this

House to defend and protect the interests of Northern Ireland? We

say that we all want to work together to ensure we can protect

the best interests of Northern Ireland. I think that ensuring we

have strong devolved government in Northern Ireland is important for

the future and so we can build on the significant progress made in

recent years for the people of Northern Ireland and I urge all

parties to come to the talks with a view to finding a way through so

that Northern Ireland once again can be restored to devolved government.

With the Prime Minister agree social media companies need to take action

to remove extremist and hate material from platforms and to foot

the Bill for the police who are currently doing their dirty work at

the taxpayers' expense? This question of working with the

companies to ensure extremist material is removed as quickly as

possible is one that is not new. Through the counterterrorism

internet referral unit we have the process to enable the police to take

material down. 250,000 pieces of material have been taken down since

2010 and there has been increase in that activity in the last couple of

years. I know the Home Secretary will be meeting companies this week

to talk to them about this important issue. We do not want extremist

material on the internet, what we want to see is companies taking

action to remove material encouraging hate and division. Late

on Saturday night, a massive explosion devastated new ferry in my

constituency. We are thinking of those who were hurt. It is a miracle

more people were not injured. The community faces dereliction. All the

Prime Minister join with me in thanking all of those who looked

after my community over the weekend and recent days, and will she

arrange a meeting with the Secretary of State who can discuss how the

government can help us to rebuild New Ferry. I am happy to do those

things. I commend and thank all of those who worked hard in the

emergency services and others to support her community when this

devastating explosion took place. That work will continue. There will

be support I am sure being given to the community in the future and I am

happy to ask the Secretary of State to meet her and discuss how that

community can be rebuilt and overcome the impact of this

explosion. Order. Statement, the Prime Minister.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Today, the government acts on the democratic

will of the British people. It acts on the clear and convincing position

of this House. A few minutes ago in Brussels, the United Kingdom's

permanent representative to the EU handed a letter to the president of

the European Council on my behalf, confirming the government decision

to invoke Article 50. The Article 50 process is now under way and in

accordance with the wishes of the British people the United Kingdom is

leaving the European Union. This is an historic moment from which there

can be no turning back. Britain is leaving the European Union. We are

going to make our own decisions and laws. We are going to take control

of things that matter most to us and we are going to take this

opportunity to build a stronger, fairer Britain, a country our

children and grandchildren are proud to call home. That is our ambition

and our opportunity. That is what this government is determined to do.

Mr Speaker, at moments like these, great turning points in our national

story, the choices we make to find the character of our nation. We can

choose to save the task ahead is too great, we can choose to turn our

face to the past and believe it cannot be done, or we can look

forward with optimism and hope and to believe in the power of the

British spirit. I choose to believe in Britain and that our best days

lie ahead. I do so because I am confident we have vision and plan to

use this moment to build a better Britain. For leaving the EU presents

us with a unique opportunity. It is this generation's chance to shape a

brighter future, a chance to step back and ask ourselves what kind of

country we want to be. My answer is clear. I want the United Kingdom to

emerge from this period of change stronger, fairer, more united and

more outward looking than ever before. I want us to be a secure,

prosperous, tolerant country, a magnet for international talent and

are home to the pioneers and innovators who will shape the world

ahead. I want us to be a truly global Britain. The best friend and

neighbour to our European partners, a country that reaches beyond the

borders of Europe. Can I apologise for interrupting. Mr Boswell, calm

yourself, you have to learn to behave in a statement --

statesman-like fashion. I want all colleagues the chance to question

the Prime Minister. This is an important statement and it is

reasonable to expect the Prime Minister gets a courteous hearing.

Mr Speaker, I want us to be a truly global Britain, the best friend and

neighbour to our European partners that a country that reaches beyond

the borders of Europe, a country that goes into the world to build

relationships with new friends and allies alike. That is why I have set

out a clear and ambitious plan for the negotiations ahead, a plan for a

deep and special partnership between Britain and the European Union, of

values, a partnership of interests, a partnership based on cooperation

in areas such as security and economic affairs, and a partnership

that works in the best interests of the United Kingdom, European Union

and wider world. Perhaps now more than ever the world needs the

liberal democratic values of Europe. Values... Perhaps...

Perhaps now more than ever the world needs the liberal democratic values

of Europe, values the United Kingdom shares and that is why while we are

leaving the institutions of the European Union, we are not leaving

Europe, we will remain a close friend and ally, we would be a

committed partner and play our part to ensure Europe is able to protect

its values and defend itself from security threats and we will do all

we can to help the European Union prosper and succeed. In a letter

delivered to resident Donald Tusk today, copies of which I have placed

in the library, I have been cleared the deep and special partnership we

seek is in the best interests of the United Kingdom and European Union. I

have been clear we will work constructively in a spirit of

sincere cooperation to bring this partnership into being. I have been

clear we should seek to agree the terms of this future partnership

alongside those of our withdrawal within the next two years. I am

ambitious for Britain and the objectives set out for these

negotiations remain. We will deliver certainty wherever possible so that

business, the public sector and everybody has as much clarity as we

can provide. Tomorrow we will publish a White Paper confirming our

plans to convert it into British law so that everyone knows where they

stand. It is why I have been clear the government will put the final

deal agreed to a vote in both houses of parliament before it comes into

force. We will take control of our laws and bring an end to the

jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in Britain. Leaving the

European Union will mean our laws will be made in Westminster,

Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, and those laws will be interpreted by

judges not in Luxembourg, but in courts across this country. We will

strengthen the union of the four nations that comprise our United

Kingdom. We will negotiate as one United Kingdom, taking account of

the specific interests of every nation and region of the UK and when

it comes to the powers we take back from Europe, we will consult on

which powers should reside in Westminster and which should be

passed on to the devolved administrations. No decision

currently taken by the devolved administrations will be removed from

them and it is the expectation of the government the devolved

administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will see a sick

that could increase in decision-making power as a result of

this process. We want to maintain the common travel area with the

Republic of Ireland, there shall be no return to the borders of the

past. We will control immigration so we continue to attract the brightest

and best to work and study in Britain, but manage the process so

that our immigration system serves the national interest. We seek to

guarantee the rights of EU citizens living in Britain and the rights of

British nationals in member states as early as we can. That is set out

clearly in the letter as an early priority for the talks ahead. We

will ensure workers' rights are protected and maintained and under

my leadership not only with the government protect the rights of

workers, but we will build on them. We will pursue an ambitious free

trade agreement with the European Union that allows for the freest

trading goods and services between Britain and the EU member states.

That gives British companies the maximum freedom to trade with and

operate within European markets and let European businesses do the same

in Britain, because European leaders have said many times we cannot

cherry pick and remain members of the single market without accepting

the four freedoms that are indivisible. We respect that

position and as accepting those freedoms is incompatible with the

expressed will of the British people, we will no longer be members

of the single market. We will make sure that we can strike trade

agreements with countries from outside the European Union. Because

important though trade with the EU is and will remain, it is clear the

UK needs to increase significantly its trade with the fastest-growing

export markets in the world. We hope to continue to collaborate with

European partners in science, education, research and technology,

said the UK is one of the best places for science and innovation

and we seek cooperation with our European partners in important areas

such as crime, terrorism and foreign affairs and it is our aim to deliver

a smoother quarterly Brexit, reaching agreement about future

partnership by the time the Article 50 process has concluded and moving

into a process of implementation in which Britain, EU institutions and

member states prepare for the new arrangements that will exist between

us. We understand that there will be consequences for the UK of leaving

the EU. We know we will lose influence...

We know that we will lose influence over the rules that affect the

European economy. We know that UK companies that trade with the EU

will have to align with rules agreed by institutions of which we are no

longer part. Just as we do in other overseas markets. And we accept

that. However, we approach these talks constructively, respectfully

and in a spirit of Cisse Corporation, for it is in the

interest of both the UK and the European Union that we use this

process to deliver our objectives in a fair and orderly manner. Is it is

in the interests of both the United Kingdom and the European Union that

there should be as little disruption as possible, and it is in the

interests of both the United Kingdom and the European Union that Europe

should remain strong, prosperous and capable of projecting its values in

the world. At a time when the growth of global trade is slowing and there

are signs the protectionist instincts are on the rise in many

parts of the world, Europe has a responsibility to stand up for free

trade in interest of all our citizens. With Europe's security

more fragile today than at any time since the end of the Cold War,

weakening our Corporation and failing to stand up for European

values would be a costly mistake. Our vote to leave the EU was no

rejection of the values we share as fellow Europeans. As a fellow

European country, we will continue to play our part in promoting and

supporting those values during the negotiations and once they are done.

We will continue to be reliable partners, willing allies and close

friends. We want to continue to buy goods and services from the EU and

sell them hours. We want to trade with them as freely as possible, and

work together to make sure we are all safer, more secure and more

prosperous through continued friendship. Indeed in an

increasingly unstable world, we must continue to forge the closest

possible security cooperation to keep our people safe. We face the

same global threats from terrorism and extremism. That message was only

reinforced by the Borren to tack on Westminster Bridge and this place

last week. -- the abhorrent attack. So there is no reason why they

should not be a special partnership between the UK and the EU that works

for us all. Mr Speaker, I know that this is a day of celebration for

some disappointment for others. The referendum last June was divisive at

times. Not everyone shared the same point of view or voted the same way.

The arguments on both sides were passionate. But Mr Speaker, when I

sit around the negotiating table in the months ahead, I will represent

every person in the United Kingdom, young and old, rich and poor, city,

town, country and all the villages and hamlets in between. And yes,

those EU nationals who have made this country their home. And it is

my fierce determination to get the right deal for every single person

in this country. For as we face the opportunities ahead of us on this

momentum journey, our shared values, interests and ambitions can and must

bring us together. We all want to see a Britain that is stronger than

it is today. We all want a country that is fairer so that everyone has

the chance to succeed. We all want a nation that is safe and secure for

our children and grandchildren. We all want to live in a truly global

Britain that gets out and build relationships with old friends and

new allies around the world. These are the ambitions of this Government

was my plan for Britain, ambitions that unite us so we are no longer

defined by the vote we cast but by our determination to make a success

of the result. We are one great union of people and nations with a

proud history and a bright future. And now that the decision to leave

has been made and the process is under way, it is time to come

together. For this great national moment needs a great national

effort. An effort to shape a stronger future for Britain. So let

us do so together. Let us come together and work together. Let us

together choose to believe in Britain with optimism and hope. For

if we do, we can make the most of the opportunities ahead. We can

together make a success of this moment. And we can together will

they stronger, fairer, better Britain, a Britain our children and

grandchildren are proud to call home. I commend this statement to

the House. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like

to thank the Prime Minister for an advance copy of her statement. Today

we embark on the country's most important negotiations in modern

times. The British people made the decision to leave the European

Union, and Labour respect that decision. The next steps along this

journey are the most crucial. If the Prime Minister is to unite the

country as she says she aims to do, the Government needs to listen,

consult and represent the whole country, not just the hardline Tory

ideologues on our own benches. Britain is going to change as a

result of leaving the European Union. The question is, how? There

are Conservatives who want to use Brexit to turn this country into a

low-wage tax havens. Labour is determined to invest in a

high skill, high-tech, high wage future, to rebuild and transform

Britain, so that no one and no community is left behind. Mr

Speaker, the direction the Prime Minister is threatening to take this

country in is both a reckless and damaging. And Labour will not give

this Government a free hand to use Brexit to attack rights, protections

and cut services, or create a tax dodgers' paradise. So let me be

clear, Mr Speaker. The Prime Minister says that no deal is better

than a bad deal. But the reality is, no deal is a bad deal. Less than a

year ago, the Treasury estimated that leaving the European Union on

World Trade Organisation terms would lead to a 7.5% fall in our GDP. And

?45 billion lost in tax receipts. Has the Treasury updated those

figures, or do they still stand? If updated, can they be published? If

not, what deal could be worse than those consequences of no deal? It

would be a national failure of historic proportions if the Prime

Minister comes back from Brussels without having secured protection

for jobs and living standards. So we will use every Parliamentary

opportunity to ensure this Government is held to account at

every stage of the negotiations. Mr Speaker, we all have an interest in

ensuring the Prime Minister gets the best deal for this country. To

safeguard jobs, living standards, we do need full access to the single

market. The Secretary of State for exiting the EU seems to agree on

this. He stated in this House on the 24th of January the Government plan

is, and I quote, a comprehensive free trade agreement and a

comprehensive customs agreement that will deliver the exact same benefits

as we have. So that is what they pledged. So will the Prime Minister

confirmed today that she intends to deliver a trade and customs

agreement with the exact same benefits? The same goes for

protecting workers' right and environmental standards, protecting

Britain's nations and regions, protecting Britain's financial

sector and services and making sure there is no return to a hard border

in Northern Ireland. And when, Mr Speaker, does she expect to be able

to guarantee the rights of all those EU nationals who live, work and make

such a massive and welcome contribution to this country? And

for those British and is who live in all parts of the European Union,

including guaranteeing that they were a pensions will not be frozen

post-Brexit. Brexit would be a huge task for any Government. But so far

they seem utterly complacent about the scale of the task ahead. The

Government Ministers cannot make up their minds about the real

objective. The Foreign Secretary, he is here today, said in October, our

policy is having our cake and eating it. How apposite from the Foreign

Secretary. Today, the Chancellor on BBC Radio 4 said, we can't have our

cake and eat it. Maybe they should get together and talk about it.

These at one level Mr Speaker might seem like a flippant exchanges from

Ministers, but they do reflect serious differences about Britain's

negotiating aims. The Government must speak with a united voice.

However, the Foreign Secretary is the same man who promised our

National Health Service ?350 million a week once we left the EU. Now he

believes that leaving the EU without a deal would be perfectly OK. It

would not be perfectly OK, it would damage our economy and people's

living standards. Will the Prime Minister confirmed that she rejects

such complacency? Labour set out our tests for this Government 's Brexit

negotiations, and we will use all means possible to make sure we hold

the Government to this word. An full access to the single market, on

protecting Britain from being dragged into a race for the bottom,

and ensuring our future relationship with the European Union is strong

and cooperative. A relationship where we can work together to bring

prosperity and peace to our continent. If the Prime Minister can

deliver aid Eildon meets our tests, that will be fine, we will backfire.

More than ever, Britain needs a Government that will deliver for the

whole country, not just a few, and that is the ultimate test of the

Brexit deal, that the Prime Minister must now secure. I'm grateful to the

right honourable gentleman. course we now enter the formal

process of negotiation. It does seem the message he sent today has not

got through to the whole of his front bench. I understand of the

Cabinet met his shadow international trade Secretary tweeted a photo of

me signing the letter, claiming I was signing away our country's

future. I'm afraid that's what we see from Labour all too often,

talking down Britain, desperate for the negotiations to fail and out of

touch with ordinary working people. He's referred to the tests which

I'll come onto. He asked me specifically about EU nationals. I

have expressly referred to this in the letter to President Tusk and

made it clear that I would hope we could deal with this issue of EU

nationals here and UK nationals in other member states at as early as

possible stage in the negotiations. I believe there is goodwill on both

sides to do that. He mentioned the Labour Party tests which they've set

out for negotiations. I've been looking at them. There are

principles that the government has time and time again said we are

determined to meet. He asks will the final deal ensure a strong and

collaborative future with the EU. Yes. In my letter to President Tusk

that's exactly what I set out our intention is to be. Will it deliver

the same benefits we have? We've been clear that we want to get the

best possible deal and free and frictionless trade. Will the deal

protect national security? Yes. Will the deal deliver for all regions and

nations of the UK? We've been very clear that we are taking all nations

and regions into account as I said in a letter to President Tusk. As I

said earlier in answer to questions in PMQs we expect that as powers are

repatriated devolved administrations will see a significant increase in

decision-making. His fifth test was Will the deal defend rights and

protect from a race to the bottom? We've been very clear that workers'

rights will be protected, it is not something up for negotiation under

this government. He should perhaps listen to his own Mayor of London

who has said" to give credit to the government, I do not think they want

to change workers' rights. There has been some anxiety, I have seen no

evidence that it is their aspiration or something they want to do". But

there is a sixth test the Labour Party has set out which I don't

think the honourable gentleman specifically mentioned and perhaps

that is because of confusion in the Labour Party because the sixth test

is will the deal ensure fair management of migration? What we see

on that is a confused picture from the Labour Party. The Shadow Home

Secretary says freedom of movement is a worker 's right and the Right

Honourable gentleman himself said the following. Labour is not wedded

to freedom of movement for EU citizens as a point of principle,

but I don't want that to be misinterpreted, nor do we rule it

out. Little wonder nobody has any idea what the Labour Party position

on that issue is. To all those we should be coming

together and exacting the ambition of our country for the future and we

should not be talking down the negotiations as he does. We should

set out our optimism and determination to get the best

possible deal for everybody in the United Kingdom.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Leader of the Opposition 's remarks were

breathtaking. For decades, from Maastricht onwards, he voted with us

over and over and over again and today, Mr Speaker, this is a

historic day indeed. Can my right honourable friend reaffirmed that at

the very heart of this letter lies the democratic decision in the

referendum of UK voters, given to them by a sovereign act of

Parliament by 6-1 in this house, enabling the British people to

regain their birthright to govern themselves, for which people fought

and died over generations? The referendum was then followed by a

massive majority of 372 in this house on the third reading of the

withdrawal bill itself. Trade and cooperation, yes. European

government, no. I think I can give my honourable friend the reassurance

that he seeks. If I just quote from the very opening paragraph of my

letter to President task, the very first line is to reaffirm that on

June 23 last year the people of the United Kingdom voted to leave the

European Union but I go on to say that we do want the European Union

to succeed and prosper. The vote was not a rejection of the values that

we share as fellow Europeans, instead the referendum was about to

restore as we see it, our national self-determination. It is important

for everybody to remember on this day that on the referendum for the

European Union the people of Scotland voted by 62% to remain in

the European Union. Every single local government area in the country

voted to remain in the European Union. Mr Speaker, this happened two

years after Scottish voters were told that they had to voted no to

Scottish independence to remain in the European Union, and yet

ironically this is exactly what will happen now, because of the majority

elsewhere in the United Kingdom, it will being imposed on the people of

Scotland. Last year, Mr Speaker, I have raised repeatedly in this

chamber the Prime Minister made a commitment to a UK wide approach and

agreement with the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern

Ireland. Since then the Scottish Government has published a

compromise suggestion. At its heart a plan that could satisfy people in

Scotland and the rest of UK. The Prime Minister could have said that

she would try, try to seek an agreement with European partners on

the plan, which could have protected Scotland's place in the European

market, but she did not. The Prime Minister could have taken the views

of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments seriously and she

could have reached an agreement before triggering Article 50, as she

promised. She did not and she does not... Order! I apologise for

interrupting the gentlemen, we cannot have side exchanges taking

place while the right honourable gentleman should have the floor.

Yes, I'm perfectly capable of seeing whence the disruption hailed, but I

hope it will not persist. The honourable gentleman has important

responsibilities in the government Whip office and he is normally the

embodiment of courtesy, to which I know he will now return. Mr Angus

Robertson. Thank you, Mr Speaker. We on these benches has become

accustomed to the views of members on the other side of the house being

incapable of understanding that the people of Scotland voted to remain

in the European Union. The Prime Minister promised, promised... The

honourable gentlemen and ladies opposite should understand that we

have televisions in Scotland and viewers in Scotland can see this

discourtesy from the benches opposite. They don't like to hear it

but listen they must. The Prime Minister promised an agreement.

There is no agreement. She has broken her word, and as Scotland's

members of Parliament, we have been sent here with a mandate to stand up

for the people of Scotland, it is a mandate that the Prime Minister does

not enjoy. 58 out of 59, 58 out of 59 MPs from Scotland voted against

triggering Article 50. The Scottish parliament voted against the

triggering of Article 50, the Scottish Government was against the

triggering of Article 50 before an agreement, and what has this

government done? It has carried on blithely, ignoring the views of

people in Scotland and its democratically represented a lack --

democratically elected representatives. Europe is watching

and it is watching the way that this government treats parts of the

European Union that voted to remain with Europe. Mr Speaker, the UK

Government had a mandate to hold a Brexit referendum. We accept that.

We accept the result to leave in the rest of the United Kingdom, and in

that context... Again, Mr Speaker, the benches opposite do not seem to

understand that the United Kingdom is a multinational state with four

nations, and two of them voted to stay, and two of them voted to leave

and all of the rhetoric from the government benches does not paper

over the gaping chasm that there was not unity in this so-called United

Kingdom. As Democrats we should all accept that the Scottish Government

has a mandate, given that by the people of Scotland, in an election

that we should have a choice after the negotiations have concluded. It

should not be kicked into the long grass on that democratic choice

tonight. Yesterday the Scottish Parliament voted by 69-59 that

people and scholars should have that choice. Will the Prime Minister

confirm that she will recognise the democratic right of the people to

make their own choice after negotiations have concluded? Mr

Speaker, the Prime Minister says that she thinks that Brexit will

bring unity to the United Kingdom. It will not. On this issue it is not

a United Kingdom and the Prime Minister needs to respect the

differences across the nations of the United Kingdom. If she does not

and she remains intransigent, and if she denies Scotland a choice in our

future, she will make Scottish independence inevitable. Calm

yourselves! You are an exceptionally over excitable individual,

brandishing your order paper in a distinctly eccentric manner. Go and

entertain yourself somewhere else if you can't calm yourself. The Prime

Minister. The right honourable gentleman has said this afternoon on

a number of occasions, as he has on many occasions in this House before,

that Scotland voted to remain in the European Union and should therefore

be treated differently. My constituency voted to remain in the

European Union! The point is that we are one United Kingdom. It was a

vote of the whole of the united Kingdom. What I hear from people

outside of this chamber, and by the way the right honourable gentleman

seems to forget that something like 400,000 SNP supporters voted to

leave the European Union. What I hear from people outside this

chamber, from individuals and businesses alike, whether they voted

to remain or to leave, is that the vote, having been taken, the

decision having been given to people, of the United Kingdom that

we should now respect that vote and get on with the job of delivering

for everybody across the whole of the United Kingdom. He refers to the

issue of Scottish independence and its impact on membership of the

European Union. It is the case, and the European union has reinforced

the Barroso doctrine, that is Scotland were to... They seem to

find it amusing but just to remind everybody that that is the doctrine

that if Scotland were to become depends on the United Kingdom and if

they had voted for independence in 2016 that they would have ceased to

be a member of the European Union. We will be ensuring that the

substance of the deal that we achieve, the substance of the deal

that we achieve, and I am interested in the outcomes of this deal, will

be the best possible deal for the people of the whole of the United

Kingdom. He talks about democratic representation and democratic

responsibility. Perhaps the Scottish Government might like to consider

White has not passed a single piece of legislation in Holyrood in the

past year. -- why the Scottish Government has not passed a single

piece of legislation... I especially welcome that we want a special

relationship with the EU, based on friendship and trade and many other

collaborations once we are an independent country again. Would my

right honourable friend confirm that the UK Government is offering tariff

free trade with no new barriers to all of our partners in Europe, which

must make enormous sense for them? My right honourable friend is

absolutely right, we want to see that tariff free trade on a

reciprocal basis with the other countries in the European union. I

think it makes sense and we already operate on the same basis because we

operate under the same rules and regulations and I think we should

look to have that maxim of free trade between the two countries. I

thank the Prime Minister for her statement and for advance sight of

it but today the Prime Minister is not an the will of the people, she

is at best interpreting that will, choosing a hard Brexit outside the

single market, that was never on the ballot paper. This day of all days,

the Liberal Democrats will not roll over, as the official opposition has

done. Our children and our grandchildren will judge all of us

for our actions during these times. I am determined that I will look my

children in the eye and be able to say that I did everything to prevent

this calamity that the Prime Minister has today chosen. We now

face an unknown deal that will shape our country for generations. The

deal will be signed off by someone and the only question is who. Will

it be the politicians or should it be the people? Surely the Prime

Minister will agree with me that the people should have the final say? I

say to the right honourable gentleman, can I gently remind him

that he talks about us enacting the decision of the referendum, of

course, we're acting the decision that was taken by the people of the

United Kingdom enough referendum that I might remind him that it is

not that long ago that the Liberal Democrat party wanted a referendum

on this and we gave it to the man we are abiding by it. The Prime

Minister has made it very clear that immigration is her number one

priority. As a result of that, we cannot accept the free movement of

people and we cannot remain a member of the single market. But, Mr

Speaker, that may change in the next two years, who knows what might

happen? The EU may move away from that principle of the free movement

of people. In that event, could the Prime Minister give an assurance

that she has not turned her back on membership of the single market? It

is what British business once and it would stay off Nicola Sturgeon and

the SNP is outrageous demands for a second referendum, and... And these

are serious matters that this United Kingdom faces. It would provide the

solution to Northern Ireland as we now leave the European Union. Can I

just gently say to my honourable friend she started her question by

saying that immigration was the number one priority. What we have

done is said that we want a comprehensive package which does

enable us to control immigration and set our own rules on immigration but

also has exactly the sort of free access to the single market that I

think my honourable friend is talking about and businesses want to

see and I believe that we can achieve that agreement and we should

be optimistic and ambitious in achieving that agreement. There are

all the freedoms that the European Unions leaders will quote in

relation to full membership of the single market, such as the

jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and I think people voted

to stop that jurisdiction last year and what matters to me is the

outcome, not the structure by which we achieve that outcome, but will we

have the free and frictionless tariff free access to the single

market, and that is what we want to achieve and it is what we are

working for. Can I thank the Prime Minister for

her statement and congratulate her government on delivering on the will

of the people of the United Kingdom and wish her well and her government

in the negotiations that lie ahead. We are convinced that she is the

right leader of our country for these challenges. And isn't the

fundamental point this: that this United Kingdom, this union is far

more important for the economic prosperity of all our people than

the European Union? And can I also commend her for putting in article

five in the principles she put out, Northern Ireland, the relationship

of the Republic, and the way that has put forward. She will have our

support in the coming months and years in this house to make that a

reality. I thank the right honourable gentleman for his

comments, particularly that we have recognised the particular

circumstances of Northern Ireland and its relationship because of the

land border with the Republic of Ireland. I recognised that in the

letter to President Tusk. Can I agree with him when he says the most

important union economically and for this United Kingdom in other ways is

the United Kingdom. It is the case that for individual constituent

parts it is the trading within the single market of the United Kingdom

is far more important than trading with the European Union. Can I

commend my right honourable friend for her constructive, positive and

realistic tone she has set today with her statement and the letter to

Donald Tusk. Can I also can't graduate her and her government for

the use of the last nine months in order to prepare us for this point

making up for the lack of preparation by the last

administration for this moment. And can I also urge on herbal

preparation that is implicit in this letter, that if it is impossible to

get a deal home, that whilst that will be coped with by the United

Kingdom and the European Union as it must be, that we are in the position

to cope with it, should that happen. I thank my right honourable friend

and it is important, we are approaching this in a realistic and

pragmatic way, as he says. It is absolutely right of course

government will be working across all departments to ensure that we

have preparations in place whatever the outcome be. As I made clear in

my letter to President Tusk, while both the European Union and the UK

could cope with no agreement, that would not be the ideal situation, it

is not what we would be working for and we should actively be working to

get the right deal for both sides. Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister is

right to say in her statement that this eventual deal must work for the

48% as well as the 52%, because whether we were Remainers or levers

we are in the same country together after Brexit. Can I emphasise to her

that national unity must be earned and not just asserted. And it must

be shown in deeds and not just in words. And we are a long, long way

away from it and I think she will agree with that. As she reflects on

the statement, can she say what she thinks she needs to do differently

in the next 24 months to achieve that national unity which, frankly,

eludes us at the moment. I think the most important thing that we can do,

to things that we will be doing over the next 24 months as a government,

one is putting in place our plan for Britain which is about ensuring that

we see the United Kingdom where the economy works for everyone, where we

see a much fairer society, where success is based on merit, not

privilege. That's what is driving this government and that's what we

will put into place domestic league. Also for the unity of the UK the

most important relation to the negotiations with Europe is to get

the best possible deal in terms of cooperation on security but also in

terms of the free trade arrangement which will bring prosperity to our

economy. Can I thank and congratulate my right honourable

friend for resolutely sticking to her promise to the UK people to

trigger Article 50. There will be celebrations all around the country,

nowhere more so than coastal communities where the health and

welfare of our fishing grounds has been trashed by the common fisheries

policy. In order to fully re-establish our national control we

will have to aggregate our meat membership of the London Convention

on fisheries 1964 and that requires two years notice, as my right

honourable friend intend to trigger that soon? My right honourable

friend has always had an interest in the impact of common fisheries and

it is an issue he has looked at. We are looking closely at the

convention and what needs to be done. He is right it would require

two years. Of course we expect to conclude the deal with the European

Union within two years but there will be then periods of

implementation periods beyond that period of time but we would hope to

be able to say something about the fisheries convention soon. There are

many across this house who are very aware of the sheer scale and

complexity of the negotiations that will face our team and very

conscious of the importance of getting those right. It has never

been more true that the devil will be in the detail. As that detail

emerges, will the Prime Minister ensure that everybody in her teens

stops the practice which has been so prevalent of claiming that every

awkward question is evidence of a desire to overturn the will of the

British people? The right honourable lady is absolutely right that these

will be very complex negotiations and I think it was right to wait for

the nine months that we have done in order to invoke article 57 we have

been able to do a considerable amount of preparation. There will be

technical discussions to take place as well as the higher level

discussions, and I can assure the right honourable lady that we

consistently ask ourselves difficult questions to ensure that we are

testing every approach that we put forward so that we get the best

possible deal. May I reassure my right honourable friend that Donald

Tusk has indeed received the letter, he tweeted about it one minute

earlier which shows the keenness of our team. May I also told the Prime

Minister that Donald Tusk has said that he is missing us already but

that he recognises it is in the European Union's interest as well as

that of the United Kingdom that we achieve an agreement that will

benefit both sides in this negotiation. This is absolutely

right. I'm pleased to hear that President Tusk has taken the view.

This is not just about the United Kingdom for the future, it is about

the European Union for the future and about the relationship that we

will have with them. As I said in the letter we wanted deeper and

special partnership to continue in the future. The Prime Minister has

the goodwill of the country as she seeks a new relationship with our

European allies. Will she confirmed that enshrines posing EU directives

and regulations into UK law we don't transpose all the rulings of the

ECJ. We do not have the EU Charter of fundamental rights imposed given

that we have long-standing assurances that it will not have

legal force in this country. I would say to the honourable gentleman that

we will be publishing the great repeal Bill tomorrow which will make

clearer how we are going to transpose the relevant judgments of

the European Court of justice. This government has taken a very clear

position that we don't think that the European Charter of fundamental

human rights is something that is applicable. In her letter to

President Tusk, the Prime Minister said in January, we are leaving the

European Union, we are not leaving Europe. She will know that 16.1

million people last June voted to do neither. But the result is as it is

an needs to be honoured. Could my right honourable friend say how she

will keep Parliament fully engaged, this Parliament, through that

process, and also that she will do her utmost to secure a trade deal we

can all support and not listen to the siren voices who seem to think

that no deal is a good option? I'm very happy to give the reassurance

to my right honourable friend. I want to secure a really good trade

deal for the United Kingdom. I also want to secure trade deals with

countries around the rest of the world. We do want to ensure and we

start off from a good position because we are operating on the same

rules and regulations as the European Union, that we get that

really good trade deal with the EU. There will be significant

opportunities for this house and Parliament to consider opportunities

as we go through the next two years. The great repeal bill itself will be

a matter foot of and consideration in this house. There will also be

some subsequent pieces of legislation required as a result of

the decision to leave the European Union which will come before this

house and we will make every effort to keep this house informed as we go

through. I've always said we will be clear and give clarity were able to

do so. The Prime Minister will no doubt recall the referendum speech

she made last April in which she said "The big question is whether in

the event of Brexit we would be able to negotiate a new free trade

agreement with the EU and on what terms". Given that the European

Union appears to want to start the negotiations by talking only about

money, given that there are about 18 months ago, how is the Prime

Minister going to ensure that there is sufficient time to reach that

agreement to provide tariff and barrier free trade and access to the

European market for our services that she has promised Britain's

businesses that she will bring back from the negotiations? Of course we

don't yet know how the European Council will choose to friend the

negotiations. I will be meeting on the 29th of April to determine that.

There will be the two parts to the work going forward. One is the

process of withdrawal and the terms of withdrawal and the other is what

the future relationship will be. It's clear in Article 50 that the

former should be done in the context of the latter. So I think it is not

just reasonable but entirely right and proper that we look at those two

issues alongside each other. As I've said in answer to other questions,

the point about the comprehensive free trade agreement is that we will

not be operating as a third party such as Canada for example when it

started its negotiations with the European Union. We already operate

on the same basis and already have that free trade between the European

Union and the United Kingdom. I believe that sets us on a better

basis on which to start those negotiations and that it will be

possible to get that comprehensive free trade agreement. I thank the

Prime Minister on her handling of the triggering of Article 50 and

respecting the wishes of the British electorate at the referendum. Can I

suggest there's another reason to make sure that guaranteeing the

rights of EU nationals both living here and on the continent should be

a very high priority. Not only is it the right thing to do and it

establishes good intent but it would be clear to the world, should there

be no agreement, that actually that would not be our fault, we would not

be using EU nationals as bargaining chips? Well, I'm very clear in the

letter I have sent to President Tusk that we intend to work on the rights

of EU nationals and UK nationals living in the EU to be undertaken to

be part of the negotiations at an early stage. As I've said before I

genuinely believe there is goodwill to do that and I hope that we will

be able to achieve that at an early stage of negotiations and give

reassurance to both EU citizens living here and UK citizens living

in the European Union of their future. The last Prime Minister did

not want this day to come, although it did follow from many decisions he

took over many years. And he will be remembered as the Prime Minister who

unintentionally let Britain out of Europe. This Prime Minister, I know,

does not want to see the break-up of the United Kingdom, but she will

also note that holding us together requires more than just the rhetoric

of unity. So can she say what she will do in both the content and

style of her negotiations not to fuel further division, not to play

into the hands of others, but to ensure voices from all over the

country are genuinely heard in this debate so that she does not become a

Prime Minister who unintentionally leads the break-up of Britain. Can I

first of all say to the right honourable lady, she referred to the

decision on the referendum as one of leaving Europe, it is leaving the

European Union, it is not leaving Europe. We want at deep and special

partnership with the European Union, and we will continue to be part of

Europe and work with our friends and allies in Europe. As we go ahead we

will continue to undertake discussions with not just the

devolved administrations in the United Kingdom but with businesses

across the United Kingdom, with other organisations across the UK,

government departments are speaking with a whole range of sectors to

ensure that all views and considerations are taken into

account as we go forward in the negotiations. We want to make sure

that we fully understand the concerns and interests people have

and that's why we've already started talking widely with not just the

devolved administrations but also others across the United Kingdom to

ensure that we do get those views and take them into account.

Can I congratulate my right honourable friend on her resolve in

carrying forward the Democratic out crumb of the referendum and no

matter what the differences are crosses House I can assure her that

every single member of this House would wish her well for the

negotiations ahead. No matter how those negotiations progress over the

coming months and years, can she confirm that the United Kingdom will

continue to prioritise Corporation and the exchange of information with

the other European countries, to ensure that our internal and

external security is not compromised in any way whatsoever. I am happy to

give my right honourable friend that assurance. The security cooperation

that we have, the cooperation we have on justice and home affairs

matters, is very important to us as well as the member states of the

European Union. It is something I worked closely on as Home Secretary

and I can assure her that we will be looking to ensure that corporation

can continue. Now, as we look at the challenges we face, across the

globe, now is not the time for less Corporation, now is the time to

ensure that we continue to cooperate and build on that. Could I remind

the Prime Minister that Northern Ireland voted 56% to remain? My own

constituency voted almost 70% and could I, with respect, Prime

Minister, warn you about the Trojan horse being pushed out to you in the

form of honey words from the bench behind me. The Prime Minister says

that the interests of all nations and regions of the UK have to be

taken into account in the negotiations. What measures has she

been able to put into place, or does she intend to put into place, to

ensure that the Northern Ireland views, needs and special

circumstances are taken into account in these negotiations going forward?

Can I thank the honourable gentleman for his question and the point he

made about the boat in Northern Ireland is one that I was attempting

to show earlier, which is that different parts of the United

Kingdom voted in different ways, some voted to leave and some to

remain. The overall result of the referendum from the United Kingdom

was that we should leave the European Union and it is what we

will be doing. We have been maintaining contact with the

Northern Ireland executive up until the point at which the executive

ceased to exist and the election was taking place. We have been

continuing to talk to political parties in Northern Ireland on this

issue. The best result to ensure the voice of the devolved administration

can be heard in these negotiations is for the parties to come together

and for us to see a strong devolved government that will provide us with

that dealer Kutcher. Since the vote the economic news has confounded

expectations. Economists for free trade have told us how WTO rules

with the right policies can cut consumer prices and raise GDP and we

have heard every reason to believe that we will secure the right trade

deal for us and we will liberate trade right around the world. Will

the Prime Minister agree with me that the time for project fee is

over? My honourable right -- my honourable friend is right.

Obviously there were predictions of what happened to the economy of the

United Kingdom voted to leave and his predictions have not proved to

be correct and we see a strong economy. As we go forward we want to

build on that we want to ensure we get those comprehensive trade

agreements. I believe a comprehensive free trade agreement

with the European Union should be our aim and it is what we will be

working for and we will also be looking to promote trade around the

rest of the world, as my honourable friend says, it is I think in the

interests of everybody, not just the UK or the EU but also countries

around the world that we stand up for the benefits of free trade and

we promote it around the world. As has been said the Prime Minister

said in her statement she was taking due account of the specific interest

in every nation and region of the UK. Leading councils in Yorkshire

have had no contact whatsoever from the government. Can the Prime

Minister please work now with local government and local enterprise

boards in all English regions to analyse the effect on jobs and trade

and investment so negotiations can achieve, as was promised, not just

an aspiration by the Secretary of State for Brexit but the exact same

benefits, as we have for membership of the single market in the customs

union. She sidestepped the question from the Leader of the Opposition.

Can I ask again, does she believe the English regions can get the

exact same benefits as before? The Right Honourable Lady has asked a

number of questions there. I am very clear that we want to ensure that we

get that free trade agreement, that comprehensive free trade agreement,

which does give our businesses the benefits that they have had as

members of the European Union. In relation to local authorities and

Maher is my right honourable friend is talking to local Mayers and I had

a roundtable of local authorities in Birmingham and we spoke to them so

we're listening to voices across the regions. Like millions of others in

the United Kingdom, I am proud of the European Union and the

contribution the United Kingdom has made to the European Union during my

political lifetime, and I am a little sad about today, but I do

stand unequivocably with the Prime Minister as she calls for a united

approach to a new future. Does my right honourable friend therefore

agree with me that in order to make that national endeavour meaningful

that her door and the door of her ministers should always be open to

all parties in the House and all sides in this discussion because for

a new script to be written for the European Union and the United

Kingdom 's relationship, it should be written as much by those who

value the European Union as those who have campaigned to leave it? I

thank my right honourable friend for his question. As I stayed in my

statement earlier there will be those who are celebrated and those

who are sad and disappointed about the decision that has been taken

back can I reassure him that as we move forward and we ensure we are

getting the best possible arrangements for the future that we

can I do want to listen and ministers do want to listen to all

voices in this House, to those who were ardent on both sides of the

campaign and as I just indicated we are listening to all parts of the

United Kingdom. Today is the day that The Right Honourable member for

Maidenhead has become the first Prime Minister in recent history to

have to be reminded that Scotland is a country, not a constituency of

England. The Prime Minister refused to reply... The Prime Minister

refused to reply to the question of whether there had been an economic

assessment of the impact of leaving the EU with no deal. Has there been

such an assessment? Will she publish it at, and if that hasn't been hard

as the former Home Secretary know it is perfectly OK? Can I said The

Right Honourable gentleman I am well aware that Scotland is a constituent

nation of the United Kingdom. The point is a very simple one and it

was made from the bench behind him earlier, which is that different

parts of the United Kingdom voted in different ways. Different

constituencies voted different ways and Scotland Wales and Northern

Ireland voted in different ways. Wales voted to leave Scotland and

Northern Ireland voted to remain, but the overall response of the

United Kingdom was a vote to leave the European Union and that is what

we are putting into place. I say to The Right Honourable gentleman, that

we are looking at the arrangements that need to be put in place

whatever the impact and whatever the decision that is taken at the end

but crucially what I am very clear about, and I am clearing my lesson

to -- letter to President Tusk, that we should work to get that

comprehensive free trade agreement so we are not in a position of

having no deal but we have a deal to the benefit of everyone in the UK,

including the people of Scotland. Could I congratulate the Prime

Minister on the cool and constructive clarity and conviction

she has brought to this momentous period in British politics and her

commitment to to negotiate on behalf of everyone in this country, the 48

as well as the 52. Does she agree that we must almost -- also double

our commitment to domestic reform, the Conservative programme that is

so key to skills and infrastructure and our post Brexit prosperity and

the union that we want to succeed. She said to Donald Tusk that the

task is momentous but it should be beyond us. Does she agree that that

applies to the members of the House and direct the shrill voices of

nationalism so that we pull together and not a part. My honourable friend

is absolutely right. The question that people responded to in the

referendum was about leaving the European Union but I believe that

the vote to leave was also a vote for change in this country, for

wider change in this country. That is why it is so important that we

put forward and deliver on our plan for Britain, for the stronger and

fairer society, a country that works for everyone, and it is important

right now that we do pull together and we do recognise that the task we

have ahead is about ensuring we get the right result for the whole of

the United Kingdom. I think regardless of how people voted in

the referendum I suspect there is an even bigger majority today for all

of us to get on and get the best we possibly can. Can I asked the Prime

Minister, because many businesses are worried, that in the triggering

of Article 50 they feel that the clock is ticking and everything

might need to be resolved within two years. She can she reassure those

businesses that what we will have end of the two years is the

headlines, that there will have to be transitional agreements to ensure

the Devil in the detail is explored and this House can discuss about and

we get it right for the businesses and the rest of Britain? The Right

Honourable lady is right. Of course businesses want the certainty of

knowing where they will stand so they can plan for the future. That

is why I think two things are important, that we bring this into

law through the UK repeal bill so that people know that every role

does still apply and they know where they stand. It is also right that it

is a tight timetable to get the agreement and there will need to be

implementation periods so that we can ensure it is now put into

practice in the way that makes practical sense for businesses and

governments. Will the Prime Minister reaffirm that the defence of Europe

does not depend upon the EU, but upon the deterrent effect of article

five of the Nato treaty, which means that an attack on any European Nato

member will involve the United States in its defence from the first

hour of the first day, but in a spirit of unity will she join with

me in congratulating two statesman on opposite sides of the Brexit

debate, Sir John Major and Lord Tebbit of Chingford who may not

share the same views on Europe but whose share the same birthday today.

I am very happy to wish a happy birthday to members of the

Conservative Party and do so indeed. Can I say to my honourable friend

that he has obviously raised the important issue of Nato, the bedrock

of our security and defence under article five lies at the heart of

that security and defence. We remain, as I indicated in answer to

my honourable friend, the member for Louth and Horncastle earlier, that

Nato is that important bedrock of our security and defence and we will

continue to contribute to Nato in the way we have done in the past and

continue to encourage others to ensure that Nato is able to provide

that security into the future as it has done in the past. I would remind

the Prime Minister that defence is about more than weapons, it is about

values and collective solidarity as well and there are two kinds of

futures stemming from the process that is triggered today. The first

is that we spend two years desperately trying to secure what we

have already come in the secretary of States words, the exact same

benefits that we have, while gaining control of immigration, which may

make little difference to the numbers, as ministers have

suggested, in which case people will ask

what is the point? Or there is another future where we crash out

without an agreement, defaulting to WTO rules, with all that would mean

for industry, agriculture and services. In which case people will

ask, what is the price? Which future does she think is the more likely?

What's the point? Or what the price? I have to say to The Right

Honourable gentleman that I think is throwing the question in the wrong

way. When people voted to leave the European Union I believe that we

still want to have that good trading relationship with the European Union

but what people were overwhelmingly voting for was to be able to know

that the UK Government was in control of key decisions which

previously had been taken in the EU institutions. Yes, the issue of

immigration laws was a part of that and about the spending of our budget

was also part of it but also the relationship of UK courts to

decisions being taken here in this Parliament and our ability to set

our own laws and for those laws to be determined by our courts was

underlying the vote that people took. This was not just a question

about money, it was about values and the value of that

self-determination. Can I join others in commending the

Prime Minister on what I think is a clear, concise and very generous

approach to negotiations in her statement today and her letter to

President Tusk. She will know the reason we have a strong economy

currently is partly due to decisions of the previous government and

partly because nothing has changed other than the sharp appreciation in

our currency. As we going to a period of really enhanced risk and

uncertainty for our country, process which I think she will lead us

admirably through, does she not agree it is time to start talking

facts and sense to the British people rather than rhetoric and

ideology? And in particular rejecting the idea that no deal and

a reliance on WTO rules would somehow be OK. Like me I'm sure she

has seen recent research from the research council that suggests that

the WTO deal, despite all the trade deals we want to sign with China and

Brazil and India and America would represent a loss of trade of a

quarter to the British economy. We cannot do that to this country. I

hope she will tell us we are not going to do that to this country.

Can we start talking about trusting experts are little bit more? Well my

honourable friend is absolutely right that the long-term economic

plan which was put in by the Conservative led government and on

which we all stood at the last election is the plan that has

enabled our economy to have the strength that is necessary and we

are pleased that we are able to maintain and build on that strength

in our economy. She talks about the WTO arrangements. What I say in the

letter to President Tusk is very clear, but if we leave without an

agreement, the default position is that we would have to trade on World

Trade Organisation terms. In this scenario the UK and EU would of

course cope with the change but is not the outcome that either side

should seek. We must therefore work hard to avoid that outcome. I'm

clear we want the comprehensive free trade agreement with the European

Union and that's what we'll be working for. On what is a genuinely

historic day for our country can I pay tribute to the Prime Minister

and indeed to the Brexit ministers for their determination and

dedication to get to this stage today to implement the will of the

British people. Would she agree with me that there is one area that we

should be able to move forward very quickly on in negotiations and that

is getting control of our fishing grounds back. I'd my right

honourable friend, the former Environment Secretary, did raise the

question of the London fisheries convention which we are looking at

and hope to be able to say something soon.

As we look at a whole raft in the negotiations that will be taking

place, we will be looking at policies that affect agriculture and

fisheries here in the United Kingdom and the other issues on Security and

crime. But we will be looking particularly at the London fisheries

convention in due course. The Prime Minister's letter to President Tusk

is not one I ever hope to read but having done so I welcome the eight

principles. But does the Prime Minister agree that to bring those

to fruition it would be very helpful to include all of us in this

process? Because of course even the most ardent pro-European is actually

also incredibly ambitious about this country. I'm very happy to give that

reassurance to my honourable friend. I think that what I hope we will see

and is indicated we will see, people who were previously on both sides of

this argument about leaving the European Union actually coming

together with that ambition for the future and it's important we take

all views into account as we develop that. In her letter and again in her

statement today she has made clear that she believes it will be

necessary to agree the terms of the divorce alongside the details of our

future relationship with the European Union. If the other 27

comeback in their reply and say they want to agree the terms of the

divorce first including citizenship rights, our liabilities and the

issue of orders, particularly Northern Ireland, how will she

respond? The question will be that we will go into a negotiation with

the European Union about the best way in which we take things forward.

I have been putting forward the case, as have other ministers that I

think it makes sense for everybody from a pragmatic point of view to

ensure that at the end of the two years we have both of these

decisions concluded. The withdrawal process and the future relationship.

And that's because I don't think it's in anybody's interest for the

UK to agree to withdraw to go on to one set of arrangements and then

negotiate another set of arrangements which come into place

at a later date. I think it makes much better sense for individuals,

for businesses and for governments for us to be able to conclude those

two parts of the negotiation at the same time. Some members on both

sides of this house has been working all their political career to

extract the United Kingdom from the European superstate. Sometimes we

were isolated, sometimes we were ignored and sometimes we were

insulted. But thanks to the British people today we are leaving the

European Union. In the past when there has been a major change in our

relationship with Europe it has happened through conflict, bloodshed

and turmoil. Will the Prime Minister agree with me that the whole country

can celebrate the fact that this change is happening peacefully and

democratically? I'm very happy to endorse that and I think it is

attributed to the way in which we in the UK have approached this issue.

Also the way in which our European partners have been willing to

approach it and I think will be willing to approach it for the

future. I think the eyes of the world will be on us as we go through

this negotiation to see precisely how we conduct it and I wanted to be

positively and respectfully. After the Brexit deal has been negotiated

the European Union Parliament and every other member state in the

European Union will have a say on whether to accept the deal. Can the

Prime Minister not see that to deny the people of Scotland a say at the

same time would show at a contempt for democracy in Scotland? We've

been very clear that there will be a vote in this Parliament when we come

back with a deal from the European Union, that will be in both houses

of this Parliament, it will be before the deal comes into force and

we expect that to be undertaken before the European Parliament has

had an opportunity to debate and vote on this issue. Of course within

this house there are representatives from all parts of the United

Kingdom. Does my right honourable friend recalled the words of Francis

Drake? There must be a beginning of any great matter, and the continuing

to the end until it be thoroughly finished, yield the true glory. May

I wish my right honourable friend good luck and good fortune in her