Early General Election Debate House of Commons

We now come to the notion on the early parliamentary general election

to move the motion, I call the Prime Minister. Thank you, and I beg to

move the motion on the order paper in my name and that of my honourable

friends. That mission confronts every member of this house with a

clear and simple opportunity. A chance to vote for a general

election that will secure the strong and stable leadership the country

needs to see us through Brexit and beyond. Invite each one of us to do

the right thing for Britain and to vote for an election that is in our

country's national interest. The priority when I became Prime

Minister was to provide the country with economic certainty, a clear

vision and strongly the ship after the long and passionately fought

referendum campaign. -- leadership. This Government has delivered on

those priorities. I will. In the time-honoured fashion, my honourable

friend have called this election in what she considers, and I consider

to be the national interest at this moment. It will be a brave man or

woman who vote against this notion and therefore the fixed term

parliament act is seen to be and Emperor without clothes. It is not

necessary. With the first act of the manifesto be to scrap it? My

honourable friend is trying to tempt me down a road block what is clear

is the fixed term parliament act does give us an opportunity,

notwithstanding the fixed term part of it, to have an election at

another time. It is for this house to vote for that election but, like

my honourable friend, it is clear that every member of this house

should be voting for the selection. If I just returned... I will take

one more. The Prime Minister pledged time and time again not jubilant

early election. In her ease the message, she is local to Christian

values. The Prime Minister explain why she has such a ruse and

obligated relationship with telling the truth? Order, order. -- loose

and, located. The Prime Minister can fend for herself, but what the

honourable gentleman has said is a breach. -- complicated. He is

versatile in the use of language, withdraw that and use some other

population if you must. Withdraw. I will withdraw and reformulate. Why

does the Prime Minister have such a complicated and loose relationship

with giving the country a clear indication of her intentions? To say

to the honourable gentleman, I think yesterday I have given the country a

very clear indication of my intentions and, if he has a little

patience, he will hear the reasons why I have done so. As I say, the

Government has delivered on the priorities I set out last year

despite predictions of financial and economic danger, we have seen

consumer confidence remain- the referendum, growth of jobs and

economic growth exceeding all recommendations. At the same time,

we have delivered on a mandate to red-handed by triggering article 50

before the end of March as he pledged to do. We are leaving the EU

and there can be no turning back. I well. Doesn't it take some brass

neck to call a general election when you are facing allegations of buying

the last one? I have to say, that intervention was not worthy of the

honourable gentleman. Can the Prime Minister just clarify if you support

term parliament? -- if she supports. We have an action that allows us to

have fixed term parliament. I believe it is right for us to have

this debate, have this vote in this house and I believe it is right for

members of this house to vote and I will explain why, for us to have a

general collection at this time. I will not take any further

interventions for a while. This is a limited time debate and honourable

members wish to make contributions. Today, we face a new question, how

best to secure the certainty we need over the long term to get the right

deal for Britain in Brexit negotiations and make the most of

the opportunities ahead. I've come to the conclusion that the answer to

that question is to hold a general election now in this window of

opportunity before the negotiations begin. I believe it is in prison's

national interest to hold an election now, a general election is

the best way to strengthen Britain's and any negotiations ahead because

securing the right deal for Britain is my priority and I'm confident

that we have the plan to do so. We have set out, and vision, a deep and

special partnership between a strong and successful European Union and

the United Kingdom that is free to chart its own way in the world. --

la ambition. It means they will regain control of our own money,

laws and borders. We will be free to strike trade deals with old friends

and new partners around the world. I give way. I'm grateful to the Prime

Minister forgiving way and I understand she wants to give you

have the opportunity to determine whether the should be an election.

If they have the Germans now is the time, why will be Prime Minister

stand in the face of the Scottish Government that about it for a

referendum on Scottish future. -- have decided that now is the time.

Why should the Scottish people not be given either as well? Now is the

time for a general election because it will strengthen our negotiations

in Brexit. Now is not the time for a second Scottish independence

referendum because it will weaken our hand in negotiations in Brexit.

Strength and unity with the Conservatives in the division and

weakness with the Scottish Nationalists. I will just make more

progress. I believe this delivers on the will of the British people. Our

client Brexit is the right approach and will deliver a more secure

future for our country and a better deal for all our people. It is

Claire, Mr Speaker... Just a minute, that other parties have a different

view about the right future for our country. -- clear. Members of the

other place have vowed to fight our Government every step of the way. I

thank my honourable friend forgiving way, the people of Rossendale and

Darling in the referendum gave her and her Government and mandate to

trigger article 50. She has done that. We are grateful to

strengthening her hand so she can get out there, get the best possible

deal but people living in Rossendale and Darwen, manufacturers there and

every family. My honourable friend is right and we should be united in

this Parliament in wanting to get back at possible deal, not just for

the country as a whole but everybody across the whole of this country. I

commend my honourable friend for the work he has done in Rossendale and

Darwen in supporting his constituents on this. I will give

way to the honourable gentleman and then make progress.

I can see how it suits your purpose is to make this about Brexit, but

can she accept that it may become a referendum on how brutal costs which

have left older people without care, schools sending begging letters to

parents and a record number of homeless people on the streets of

Greater Manchester. I have to say to the right honourable gentleman, of

course, when we come into the campaign, people will be looking at

the wide range of issues. They will look at the fact that pensioners are

?1200 better off, they will look at the fact that we have 1.8 million

more children in schools, but if the right honourable gentleman wants to

talk about impact on the economy, I suggest she searches in his memory

for the time he spent as Chief Secretary to the Treasury when

Labour were trashing the economy of this country. Mr Speaker, no, I'm

going to mix in progress. I have set out the divisions that have become

clear on this issue. They can and will be used against us, weakening

our hand in the negotiations to come and we must not let that happen. I

believe that at this moment of enormous national significance, this

should be unity here in Westminster, not division. That's why the right

and responsible thing for all of us here today to vote for a general

election, to make our respective cases to the country and then to

respect the result and the mandate it provides to give Britain the

strongest possible hand in the negotiations to come. I give way. In

the last election, the Conservatives gave a manifesto commitment to stay

in the single market, will she be with drying that commitment any new

manifesto and if she does, will that weaken her negotiation position? We

gave a commitment in the last manifesto to provide the people of

the United Kingdom with a boat on whether or not leave the European

Union. We give them that old, that was supported by Parliament, we give

them up but they give a clear message that they want the United

Kingdom to leave the European Union and that is exactly what we are

going to do. I fully support the fact that she needs a stronger hand

going into the negotiations as we leave the European Union. Does she

not think it prefers that some people who didn't want a referendum

in the first place and I want a second wreck around at the very end

of the procedure, just in case the British Government doesn't get a

good deal from Brussels. -- second referendum. Doesn't she believe that

if we had that, it would deeply weaken the position of the Prime

Minister in a position she has with the European Union? My friend is

absolutely right in his description of what would happen and I think of

those who want a second round friend, that is denying the will of

the people, because people voted for us to leave the European Union and

we are going to go out there and get the best possible deal. Waiting to

hold the next election in 2020 as scheduled would mean the

negotiations would reach their most difficult and sensitive stage, just

as election was looming on the horizon. A general election will

provide the country with five years of strong and stable leadership to

see us through negotiations and is sure we are able to go on to major

success as a result. That is crucial. That is the test. It is not

solely about how we reach the European Union, but what we do with

the opportunity that Brexit provides that counts. Leaving the EU offers

us a unique, once in a generation opportunity to shape a brighter

future for Britain. We need the leadership provided by a strong and

stable Government to seize it, a Government that has a plan for a

stronger Britain, a Government that the determination to see it through

and the Government that will take the right long-term decisions that

will deliver a more secure future for Britain. The Conservative Party

I read is determined to be that Government. Is the Prime Minister at

all concerned that having tried her best to build up a reputation for

little integrity, but as Home Secretary and pay minister, she has

no scene after all these denials there will be a snap election,

simply as a political opportunist. I have not denied the fact that when I

came into this role as Prime Minister, I was clear that what the

country needed was stability and the also needed a Government that was

going to show that it would deliver on the boat people had taken any

referendum on meeting the EU. We have provided that over the last

nine months. Now it is clear to me that if we are going to have the

strongest possible hand in negotiation, we should have an

election now. As I have just said, leaving in 2020, would mean that we

are coming to be more sensitive and critical part of the negotiations in

the run-up to a general election and that would be a nobody 's interest.

Except that the Conservative Party that I read is determined to that

Government, that has the determination to see through its

plan for a stronger Britain, we are determined to provide that

readership and bring stability to the United Kingdom in a long time

and that is what this election will be about, leadership and stability.

Does the Prime Minister appreciate decisiveness? And as she agree that

voting yes in this motion signifies strength, whereas a staining is a

symbol of weakness? -- ab staining. I think absolutely doubled in years

is a sign of strength. I would say a little bit more about it, but I

think anybody who thinks we should not, is endorsing the record of the

Conservative Government. Would she agree with the Lord Hill, who was a

commissioner in Europe, when asked in fund the Foreign Affairs

Committee what the best strategy for negotiation is, his response was

that we have to come together, because our interlocutors will be

watching this place, they were absolutely exploit any weakness in

our political system? My honourable friend is absolutely right and I am

grateful to him for reminding us what the Lord said with his

experience in relation to this issue. It is important that we come

together and we don't show that divisions that have been suggested

in in the past and that we are able to stroll a strong mandate for

Brexit and make a success of that. We are determined to bring stability

to the United Kingdom in a long time, that is what this election

will be about, leadership and stability will stop the decision

facing the country will be clear. I will be campaigning for a strong

leadership with me as Prime Minister and I will be asking for the public

support to continue to deliver my plan for a stronger Britain to lead

the country through the next five years and to give the country the

certainty and stability that we need. I think the Prime Minister for

giving way. On the timetable before yesterday, the Prime Minister would

have concluded her negotiation by 2019, we would have gone into the

general election 2020 a year later talking about the Prime Minister's

deal. That would have given the country and outlook as to what they

would be voting for. The Prime Minister is asking the country to

strengthen her hand. What she is actually doing is asking the country

to vote for a blank cheque. No, we are not asking the country to write

a blank cheque. We have been very clear about what we intend, I set

that out in my Lancaster house speech in January. It has been set

out in the White Paper, in the article said the letter, that we

triggered and submitted to the president of the European Council.

Can I say to be how is that the choice before us today is clear, I

have made my choice. It is to do something that run through the veins

of my party more than ever. It's a choice to trust the people. Let us

but to do that today. Let us lay out our plans for Brexit. Let us put

forward our plans for the future of this great country. Let us put our

faith in the hands of the people and let the people decide.

CHEERING Order, the question is that there

shall be a dot-mac and early parliamentary general election. Mr

Jeremy Corbyn. Thank you, Mr Speaker. We welcome the opportunity

of a general election, because it gives the British people the chance

to vote for a Labour Government that will put the interests of the

majority first. The Prime Minister says she has only recently and

reluctantly decided to go for a snap election. Just four weeks ago, the

Prime Minister's spokesperson said and I quote, there isn't going to be

an early general election. How can any voter trust what the Prime

Minister says? Britain is being held back by her Government. The Prime

Minister talks about a strong economy, but the truth is, most

people are worse off than they were when the Conservatives came to power

seven years ago. The election of the British people the chance to change

direction. This election is about her Government's failure to be build

the economy and living standards for the majority. It is about the crisis

her Government has plunged our National Health Service into, the

cuts to our children's schools which will limit the chances of every

child in Britain, 4 million of whom are now live in poverty. A chance of

an alternative to raise living standards, as more and more people

do not have security in their work or over their housing.

THEY SPEAK OVER EACH OTHER I give away to my friend.

Thank you very much. I try not to take it personally that having

arrived so early, the Prime Minister is so desperate to get rid of me she

is calling an election. Would my honourable friend agreed that the

Prime Minister, in calling this election, has essentially said she

doesn't have confidence in her own Government to deliver a Brexit deal

for Britain and one way she could security vote is to table a motion

of no confidence in her own country, which I will happily vote for. I

thank my friend for that intervention. I congratulate him on

his election to this House and I congratulate him on his work and a

agree with him. I have no confidence in the Government either. In the

interests of unity in Stoke-on-Trent, what else can I do?

I'm grateful to my Right Honourable Friend. He highlighted the fact that

the Prime Minister for 12 months dithered over whether she wanted an

election and at all times say she did not want one. But isn't the

reality that what has focused her mind is the fact that she may well

lose some of her backbenchers if the CPS have her way? I thank my friend

for that intervention. The timing of that intervention and the rule of

the CPS is extremely interesting and it's interesting that the Prime

Minister did not mention it during her contribution. I give way to the

gentleman here. He talks about trust in leaders, what trust any public

but in a leader who has no confidence from his parliamentary

colleagues and is in place by people who are not in Parliament, but from

people who are outside? Mr Speaker, I was elected leader of my party by

300,000 votes, I don't know how many people voted for the Prime Minister

to be leader of her party. Non-! I suspect it was actually none

whatsoever. So, Mr Speaker, to be 6 million people working in jobs that

pay less than the living wage, I simply say this, it doesn't have to

be like this, because Labour believes that every job should pay a

wage you can live on and every worker should have decent rights at

work. To the millions of people who can't afford a home of their own or

have spent years waiting for a council home, this is your chance to

vote for the home of your family deserves. Because we believe a

housing policy should provide homes for all, not investment

opportunities for a feud. To the millions of small businesses that up

with red tape, hikes in business rates, broken promises on national

insurance contributions, this is your chance to vote for a Government

that invests and that supports wealth creators, not just the wealth

extractors. Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister says she has called the

elections of the Government can negotiate Brexit. We had a

referendum, that establish that mandate. Parliament has voted to

accept that result. There is no obstacle, there is no obstacle to

the Government is negotiating, but instead of getting on with the job,

she is paving herself as the prisoner of the Lib Dems. Who

apparently have threatened to grind Government to a standstill. Mr

Speaker, there are nine of them and they managed to vote three different

ways on article 15. So, is obviously a very serious threat indeed. The

Tories want to use the exit to turn us into a low-wage tax haven. Labour

will use Brexit to invest in every part of this country. To create a

high wage, high skilled economy in which everyone shares the rewards.

My minister also says this campaign will be a man readership, so let's

have a head to head TV debate about the future of our country. -- in the

Prime Minister. -- about leadership. Why reject that request? Mr Speaker,

a waiver of. We want rich lives for all. -- labour offers a better

future. Not a life for the rich. Order. Giving way to the honourable

gentleman. Order. Order. Order! Other! I've learn the honourable

gentleman from more than 30 years since we do against each other in a

student collection. He's not going to take it personally. Order. The

honourable gentleman has completed his speech, he wants the point, I

will hear it with On a point of order, is that it?

CHEERING It is very generous of the right

Honourable gentleman to seek to invest me with additional powers,

but the question of whether it is it, as he puts it, is not a matter

for me, it is a matter for the honourable gentleman and he has

completed his contribution. Sir Desmond Swain. Mr Speaker, I accept

entirely the logic that was laid out by my honourable friend and heard

statement yesterday in Downing Street. What I can say is that I

read that conclusion somewhat earlier. However, I just thought the

-- did not believe it was possible to deliver. I found myself

discombobulated by a reversal in Government Public policy for the

second time in a pew weeks, having told the readers of the Forest

Journal in terms that there was no question of there being an early

general election. Because it was not in the Prime Minister's gift to

deliver it. Because of the fixed term act, that decision lies with a

majority of two thirds of the members of the House of Commons. As

I told them with absolute confidence, turkeys and will not

vote for Christmas. I congratulate my honourable friend having achieved

the impossible and secured the fact that two day, there's turkeys will

indeed vote for that. The reason why I read the opinion that I did, that

election was necessary, was firstly, during the passage and the debate on

the article 50 bill, member after member opposite got up and announced

their recantation, notwithstanding having voted to remain, they were

now going to abide by the will of their constituents. Yet at every

opportunity, they cheered to the rafters and there is you who start

out and said they remained with the 48% and believed that, so preceding,

as events unfolded, that 48% would become a majority. They pursued a

strategy of desperation, a strategy of, hang on, something might turn

up, whether that something was the long promised economic shock or

whatever. But that strategy of... Hang all in, requires an essential

ingredient, delays. Delay was the tactic that they clearly pursued

throughout the preceding of that bill with the amendments that they

table and they promised that there would be more. With respect to the

other place, the other place is not bound currently in respect of the

Government's policy by the Salisbury Convention. My honourable friend,

the member from North Norfolk and I were invited to bid their -- debate

in front of a city audience the notion that the United Kingdom is

leaving the EU. Two highly respected peers, the Lord Butler, former

Cabinet Secretary and Lord Lester, one of our premier human rights

lawyers, argued the case that they would not leave the European Union

because they were in a position to prevent it and would do so. It is

essential, therefore, I believe, that the policy be Prime Minister

has announced of pursuing a general election and securing a mandate in

this house, and a mandate to bind the other house in respect of the

Salisbury convention, is absolutely necessary. I'm confident that she

will achieve that majority because I'm confident that she will be

backed by the overwhelming majority of this nation, a few, as ING will

now, I voted for every other possible candidate for the

leadership of the Tory party last year in order to avoid becoming

leader. I had to tell her that I have become the greatest fan. As my

constituents recognise and tell me continuously, she is being

magnificently and made Geelong continue to do so. Angus Robertson.

Thank you. The Prime Minister has said that she wants unity and she

has said that she wants an end to division, and she intends to do that

by crushing opposition. With political opponents described as

saboteurs. Something I invited her earlier to take a distance from, but

she was not prepared to. This is not a vision or an understanding of

mainstream democracy that I share with the Prime Minister. For months,

we have heard from her that now is not the time for the public to vote,

no one wants it, it is important to get on with the day job. We have

been told that the Prime Minister needs to concentrate all of her time

on Brexit negotiations and that not being should get in the way. --

nothing. As we have all the renewal at 24-hour, although that was empty

rhetoric. There are two key reasons why there is going to be a general

election and the first is totally politically expedient, it is about

the woeful on electoral -- unelectable state of the Labour

Party and that is a reason of political expediency to hold an

election. It is about not wanting to repeat the political error Gordon

Brown made and she was to receive her own mandate and crushed

political opposition in England. The second reason for holding an early

general election is that it has finally dawned on the UK covenant

that the Brexit negotiations will be very difficult. -- Government. The

realities of the hard Brexit the Prime Minister is pursuing have not

yet fully dawned on the public. As one commentator wrote... Just a

moment, I will make progress. As one commentator wrote to date, the EU

will not roll over and give the UK free and frictionless access to the

internal market. The Prime Minister is cutting and running, getting a

vote in before the reality of hard Brexit hit home. Can I tell the

Prime Minister that, while she thinks she can get her way with all

of this begins the Labour Party in England, she will not get away with

this in Scotland. I thank him for giving way. On the subject of hard

Brexit, that they agree with me that it is incumbent on those advocating

it to set out very clearly what their assessment of the impact on

jobs will be of us coming out of the single market and the customs union.

Of course, that would be an opportunity in a normal general

election campaign whereby party leaders actually debate the issues

and record for them to have but there has been an interesting

developments in the debate and I have noticed colleagues looking at

their mobile phones because IGD has confirmed that there is going to be

a leaders debate. -- ITV. I'm looking at other party leaders, the

Leader of the Opposition, is he intending to take part? I suspect he

will probably take part in a television debate. No doubt the Lido

of the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party, and colleagues. -- the

leader. It is unsustainable in the 21st century, in the multimedia age,

to get to the country and not debate with the leaders of the parties. The

notion that the UK Prime Minister might be an key chair and because he

is not prepared to stand up for their argument is not sustainable.

-- empty chaired. Perhaps the honourable gentleman might take her

place instead. As I said in the house yesterday, I hope that the

Prime Minister does go ahead to head with the leaders of other parties.

It's quite simple, she would football them all! -- floor. No she

would not. I don't think she would manage that with Nicola Sturgeon. I

am surprised and I do welcome that the honourable gentleman had to say

in encouragement to the Prime Minister because I think the public

deserves a debate, more than one, during the election campaign and I

think the prime ministers should have more confidence in herself. She

should be prepared to address the country and debate the idea that all

different political parties across the UK have. We have already

learned, of course, in Scotland, that the Prime Minister is preferred

to ignore the mandate and wishes of the Scottish electorate, the

Scottish Parliament and of the Scottish Government. Why would

anyone in Scotland... I need to make progress. Why would anyone in

Scotland vote for such a dismissive and disrespectful party and Prime

Minister? I need to make some progress. Time is limited. I will

try to take some interventions later. The Prime Minister promised

she would have a unified approach with all of the devolved governments

and agreement before triggering Brexit. She did not. She broke her

words. As we have learned in recent weeks, in connection with the

appalling rate clause, the one thing that the Tories don't like talking

about is Tory policy. -- rape. This election will highlight the dangers

of unfettered jewellery Government and we live in one of the most...

Countries in the developing world but the Tories want to make it more

unfair. Experts say there will be an increase in inequality since the

days of Margaret Thatcher. I'm happy to give way to the leader of the

Green Party. I'm grateful. Does he agree with me that if this election

is, as the prime ministers said, about a more secure future for this

country, if it is of national significance, we should have an

urgent change in the law to give Britain's 1.5 million 16-17

-year-olds a say in what will be very much their future on the 8th of

June. As someone who gave his maiden speech about enfranchising 16 and

17-year-olds, I totally agree. It is unsustainable that young people have

been given leave out some elections and referenda but should be denied

it in others. I returned. I give way. I'm most grateful. He'll be

aware that the Supreme Court made it abundantly clear and all the judges

decided on a unanimous basis that issues concerning Brexit

negotiations should be determined by this Hallows which represents the

whole of the United Kingdom. This was not an issue to be decided by

any devolved institution. -- house which part party have a problem

understanding? The thing I have a difficulty understanding of the

commitment that the Prime Minister gave authority gave eventually came

to Edinburgh, it was an the front page of the Daily Telegraph, it was

in terms that she wanted to seek a UK wide approach an agreement with

the Government. The honourable gentleman might wish to rewrites

history but the Prime Minister gave a commitment to reach an agreement,

she did not reach it. The fixed term Parliament act was supposed to stop

political parties are abusing their position and putting party before

country. Today, the Tories will do just that. Sadly, the Labour Party

is going to bed with the Tories and make life easy for them. We on these

benches will not vary with the Tories. -- vote. Giving the reality

that the Labour Party well, there will be a general election and, boy,

we look forward to that! Because in Scotland,... Sign in order! Mr

Morris, normally you have a very emollient manner. Very restrained in

the past, but you have become excited. Take a soothing indignant,

it will have a good impact on you. Thank you. In Scotland, the general

election will be a two horse race, a straight fight between the Tories.

Do I think that mainstream Scots regardless of whether they voted

remain or leave will vote for a hard Tory Brexit? I do not. Will they

vote for more austerity and cuts to public services? No. Well most Scots

like a party that actively undermining the mandate already

given by the doubters in a Scottish general election? For people in

Scotland to determine their own future? No, I do not. We, on these

benches, worked hard for every vote in every seat in Scotland and we

look forward to defeating the Tories in this general election.

CHEERING There are at least ten people who

want to speak. It would be appreciated if each Member would

help other members, tailoring his or her contribution accordingly. I

welcome the courage that the Prime Minister has shown in taking this

question to the public. Who is that they are expecting to lead the

country for the next five years? I have to say, having followed the

last Speaker, it will not be the right honourable gentleman for

Moray. I think the public will have to think long and hard, because

Brexit is happening. This is not about... No, this is very

time-limited. This is not about us in here. This is about delivering

the future for the British public that they deserve. This is about

delivering the best possible outcome to this country as we leave the

European Union. I know that when we have that election on June eight,

there will be individual members here who may well find themselves in

difficulties with their constituency. For whatever reasons

they have expressed about the readership, I'm proud to be standing

behind a Prime Minister who has made it brutally clear that this is not

about making games in this place. This is about delivering a Brexit

that is the good of the European... LAUGHTER

Well, it is about that as well. Getting her relationship with the

European Union in the future is going to be incredibly important.

This will be the question posed, of the leaders that could be the Prime

Minister, that is what we are going to be asking the country, does this

country believe that the leader for Islington North to delete this

country? I suspect a large number of colleagues on his own backbenchers

would say no and I would suggest that the businesses in my

constituency would equally say no. Does the leader for... Sorry,

Westmorland and Lonsdale, his voting record and attendance in this House

along with his colleagues is generally pretty low, there are two

here today, there were none here to vote on the Budget yesterday, does

he really believed that he can lead this country? I suggest no. I would

suggest the British public, when they are looking who devote four on

the 8th of June will look forward with confidence to a Prime Minister

with an increased mandate to take us through to the next five years and I

am delighted that she is giving this opportunity to the country to

examine our record insert all been since 2010, 70 3% youth

unemployment, a drop. I hear no defence of the open is.

They are more interested in campaigning and less interested in

running the country. This party, our Government, has taken a strong

stance and in Saint Alden 's,, there are two thirds reduction in youth

unemployment, 62% in young people going into apprenticeships, those

are the records we will be bidding to the public. Brexit is happening.

We are going to make the best of it and I believe our Prime Minister

will not have to suffer 100 on a elected Liberal Democrat any other

place and nine in display to really place and nine in display to really

turn up. Trying to talk the tail of this Prime Minister. We need to make

the future secure... No, I'm going to finish. We need to make the

future secure for all young people, families, and this game playing in

the space does a disservice to the British public. They are fed up with

elections anyway, but let's get on and get a mandate for our Prime

Minister. The public do not respect the fact that people yell from the

backbenches. She can speak up for her own leader, only do, own

manifesto and own party and why she believes her own leader for

Islington North will be the person to take the country through to the

next five years. I would not share her confidence, but she obviously

has a lot of confidence in his capabilities. I will conclude by

saying that I know that this Government, which has delivered so

much already and has a much more to deliver, will have a residence with

the British public when you look at what is on offer from the other

parties who are divided, scaremongering and in Brexit denial.

This Government will govern as the best deal for all constituencies. An

appropriate time to be called. I saw a daily that Cameron Tweet... -- I

sort David Cameron Tweet saying you welcome to the decision to call an

early election. Given we are in this mess because he put party before

country in calling your friend when he did. It is hardly surprising that

the Prime Minister should follow him and indeed choose to put party

before country once again. Let's remember... Give me a moment. For

the moment that she took office, the Prime Minister has ignored the

closeness of the referendum vote, has preceded the hardest form of

Brexit driving division instead of cohesion, she has ignored the

British people, the British public sector and the National Health

Service and now in what is clearly another Act of putting 1's party

before it the country, she has chosen an early election. Not

because she needs a mandate to deliver Brexit, the Labour Party has

given her a mandate to deliver a Brexit. She's acting upon the narrow

majority of the referendum in 2016. Let's be very honest and clear about

this, she has chosen this election because she looked across the

dispatch box and she could not resist the temptation of doing the

political equivalent of taking candy from a baby and facing a Labour

Party in a general election. She expects a coronation and not a

contest. That is why the Liberal Democrats relish the challenge of a

general election. I will give way. I'm very grateful for giving way.

Given what he is said, will he rule out a Coalition with the

Conservatives? The great problem we face in this country is that the

Prime Minister is running on the expectation. There will be no need

for any Coalition, the Prime Minister has won this general

election in order to take advantage of what she sees, of what she thinks

is a clear opportunity for a majority of 100 or more. -- the

Prime Minister has called this general election. It is very clear

that we are not talking about balanced ballots, the Prime Minister

takes the view that in calling the selection it is the opportunity to

hurt you have a 100 seat majority, an opportunity to drive through not

just a hard Brexit, but indeed her agenda to is slimmed down a National

Health Service... I'm Act order. The Honourable Member is undertaking an

apprenticeship to become a statesman. He has several modules

and some years to go. He must calm himself. He is listening to be

statesmen, Tim Farron. Do as the hackles from a friend of many years

standing down below me, the reality is, we are not looking at the

balanced Parliament. The Prime Minister has clearly called the

selection on the understanding that she can reap swathes... Give herself

a majority that will allow her to do... Not the time being, thank you.

Allow her to deliver the hardest former Brexit, showing the National

Health Service, undermine support for education and figures out of the

single market. Come on, Tim. If you want to avoid a hard Brexit, the any

single market, a Britain that has a decent opposition, a decent

opposition, that only the Liberal Democrats will give you in the final

stages. Can I does point out... May I point out... There is only one

route, Mr Speaker. There is only one route the Prime Minister losing this

general election and it is a liminal Derek Radford. -- Liberal Democrat

route. I'm happy to explain. Let me move on. Let me explain why it the

only route through which Theresa May could lose her majority, unless my

friends on the SNP are about to unleash an aggressive foreign

policy, they can only get one seat. policy, they can only get one seat.

Not even the Labour Party believes they will be gaining seats at the

selection, so the only outcome of this election that does not lead to

a Conservative majority is the Liberal Democrats revival in every

part of this country. , On! The Government has already stated that

it will not down lines if negotiating goes any further than

the damp record we have frizzy. If they will not tell us what we are

receiving, they must instead just the people with their say on the

final deal. The Prime Minister has already confirmed that she will not

do any television debates, preferring to cower behind the hard

rate pages of the Brexit press than stand up and present her case to the

British people. To have the honourable gentleman, I think he may

have missed out my honourable friend to as a straight question. We have a

word in Scotland it means give as a straight and is, will you rule out a

call issue with the Tories? Gas or no? The outcome of this general

election is uncertain and in the days and weeks to come... Yes or no?

We will no doubt talk about what will happen afterwards. The

honourable gentleman below need to... Answer it! You need to be

patient and your patience will be rewarded. As will my Honourable

neighbour. I don't think my Honourable Member give an answer to

that. A lot of his views will be asked about over the next seven

weeks and he was asked one question which he refused to give an answer

to and I would be interested if he did today. Does the Honourable

members think that being gay is a sin? I do not. I am very proud to

have gone through that lobby behind the honourable gentleman there in

any Coalition Government with the Liberal Democrats introduced gay

marriage, equal marriage, and did not go as far as it did in terms of

recognising transgender rights, or however there is much more to be

done and if we campaign for an open and tolerant United Society, then we

need to make sure that we in not in any way complacent about LGBT

rights. In particular, what is going on in Chechnya at the moment. Let me

say this, do you know what, I won't. Let's move on. There is not much

time! I am flattered that you want to know my views. I will put myself

up for a leader debate with others, even if the Prime Minister doesn't.

You can then denies me. The reality is, what we had in a referendum last

June was a vote to start the process and giving the Prime Minister a

mandate to negotiate Brexit. What was not given the mandate to give

this Prime Minister the right to enact any old deal at the end of the

process. At the end of the process... What the Prime Minister

is asking for now is a blank cheque to a lower the British people to put

up with what ever a stitch up she and the Brussels bureaucrats who

together over the next two years. That is not democracy was up and

election that takes place on the 8th of June will not decide that

outcome. It will be about imposing on the British people a deal that

absolutely nobody voted for. Yes, the Liberal Democrats welcome this

opportunity to show the British people that there is another way.

The values of tolerance, of openness and fairness can help build vibrant

and successful communities and opportunities across the whole of

the United Kingdom and beyond. The Government has made it clear that

this is not the Britain that they believe in, they have chosen

isolation over core operation. Meanness of fairness, I believe in a

better Britain and that is why, Mr Speaker, we will support this

motion. Border. On account of the level of

interest and given that there are just over 37 minutes ago, I will

impose a three-minute limit to backbench speeches. I hope I can

take less time and it is a great honour to follow the honourable

gentleman, I had hoped to agree with him on one thing in his speech, I

had hoped he would have ruled out calling into a coalition with ours

because I can tell you, from these benches, there was no chance he

would want you, third, in our coalition of any Government. -- sir.

To date, the debate is in full swing but this is a good day for

Parliament. This is another slight step towards parliamentary democracy

rather than dictate by the executive. The Prime Minister has

not called a general election, it is this how that will decide whether

there will be a general election. If I thought for one moment that this

election had been in... Any moment. If I thought for one moment this

election has been called for party political reasons to go early to the

country, as happened with previous governments, they chose a moment to

go for political advantage, it gave great power to the executive. A

strange number of circumstances have come to get there. We have had a

change in the Prime Minister. We have not only at their age in Prime

Minister, we have had a change in all senior ministers as they move

from a governance that was and I Brexit to probe Brexit. --

anti-Brexit to pro. It to every member in this house to make a

decision. That proves that the fixed and is working and I absolutely...

If members visit the dumbing disagree but they can. Thank you.

I'm greatly honoured for you giving way. He said the parliament will

decide on the Prime Minister went on television yesterday, staking a

reputation, that there would be a general election. If you does not

get the majority, should she resigned after such a public

humiliation? That the whole advantage of the Parliament act. If

the house does not agree to the general election, it won't happen

and the Government will continue in office. Now, of course, opposition

members that don't want a general election would be very strange

creatures indeed but also because opposition members sit on their

hands and don't vote, they will be regarded as important Members of

Parliament. I hope the honourable gentleman will make his mind up one

way or another. -- impotence. Isn't that I've fixed term Parliament

cannot work? No one can sensibly say they prefer a Government they oppose

to continue in office rather than having the cancer defeating it.

Therefore, the fixed term Parliament act does not go far. -- the chance

to. I will disagree. It is proving today that it is working. I believe

we will have the required majority. I understand, Sir, that if nobody

objects, and you decide the matter on the voices, it in fact is carried

and we don't have too actually have two thirds. I think that is a

strange anomaly but I hope someone will shout no and we get it. I will

not be doing that today because, as you know, you have two followed...

How you go to the volume about and I would never dream of doing anything

other than that. Despite the party politics, I think this is a great

day for Parliament and it's a small step forward in parliamentary

democracy. Free issues I want to address any short time available to

me. The first is that this election is happening in our midst of

political discussions in Northern Ireland about the formation of an

executive. That is important. I want to make eclair, starters -- as far

as our party is concerned, we want discussions to continue in Northern

Ireland. Clear. We want to make eclair along with the SDLP in Ulster

Unionists we will form an executive in Northern Ireland. -- make it

clear. We do not see anything is more important than health

education, funding, the future of our problems and public services. We

believe those things are far more rewarding than some of the issues

that are now said to divide us so we are ready to get that executive up

and running two-day, next week, whenever. We don't need prolonged

negotiations. The second thing I want to say is, in terms of the

Brexit, Northern Ireland's position is different. That has been made

clear. That has been made clear in the paper set out, it is recognised

as special circumstances. We believe it is imperative that Northern

Ireland's voices heard very strongly. That is why it's such a

tragedy that Sinn Fein is what a way from the executive, collapsed the

Assembly, full other into an unnecessary Assembly election,

boycott this place and then the man is a special stages which have been

rejected from the Irish Republic, the European Union and even the

European Parliament when it set out to negotiate. Never they except some

kind of special stages, they want, and we agree with special

arrangements that recognise special circumstances of Northern Ireland.

Mr Speaker, if that'll be essential in the election is now going to

happen, people in Northern Ireland recognise the clear choice between a

party that has waterway and abandoned its responsibilities on a

number of fronts and a party that will enter Government in Northern

Ireland, takes the chair, contribute and raise its voice, standing up for

Northern Ireland. The final thing I want to say this. The only big issue

about going forward in terms of this country, this election will provide

clarity. It will provide clarity on the union. The union that really

matters, the union of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and

Northern Ireland. On that issue, the people of Northern Ireland will have

a clear choice. They will have a clear choice as to whether or not

they will want to rally round and say firmly that they want Northern

Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom, whether they want to go

down the route presented by Sinn Fein, which is a Marxist, Leninist

concept of a republic that has been rejected by most people accept their

nationalism and but reject what they stand for in terms of their

intellect average and all the rest of it. The only way to support the

union is by rallying behind the Democratic Unionist Party on the 8th

of June. The Prime Minister presents itself, to adapt a phrase from Tony

Blair, as a pretty straight sort of a person. She is a former Home

Secretary, she is a former Home Secretary and she knows full well

the values of evidence as it is proved. Firstly, she was initially

in favour of leaving the European Union. A lesser moral stand, even if

I disagree. Then in favour of May in, others silent in that report.

Now with us again in her determination to leave. Secondly,

opposed to holding a second general election. -- a general election.

Turning on domestic matters when he had important and time limited

international negotiation to conclude. Now, hey how, she has

eagerly said it is a general election we must happen. Again the

European Union, for the European Union, again, again. Against holding

a general election, now determined to have one. Mr DJ, they recognise

that are as straight as legendary European Union bandanna. -- bonanza.

-- banana. She has said she wants an election to get a larger Tory

majority. But the honourable member agree with me that the Prime

Minister is triggering the -- treating the electorate with

contempt because he assumes it will result in such and she admits she

has no plan at all for this country if she does not get that result. I

have no crystal ball. I know the disarray unfortunately that the

party of the rates on my right and who knows what the outcome would be

but I am suspicious of the Prime Minister's motives and reasoning.

She said he general election would in hand the stages of the other 27

and I cannot see how that might the case. Just to turn briefly to what I

do think the motives are, and I think they're pretty clear. They are

pretty straight. Is not only about the destruction of the Labour Party

as a credible opposition over the next decade or so, unfortunately,

and I'm afraid they are doing in very effective demolition job

themselves with her help, it is not only about raising a challenge to my

friends in Scotland, though I think, in this case, her case is already

lost. This is about seeing of her opponent on the side of the house

and her enemies behind her. As always with the Tories, desperate

while it suits. My hearty Plaid can raise welcomes unity. We welcome the

people of Wales and the opportunity for the people of Wales to change

our course in the long-term. -- banana. Away from the cyber

centralised governments in London. -- Plaid Cymru. With prosperity,

social justice than the problem confident place all else in the

world. If the Prime Minister, when taking office, said we wanted this

Government led by herself wanted a general election, there would be

less controversy than there is at the moment. But it is denial. Every

opportunity, she herself or someone speaking for her has denied the

general election. Where was the general election, they were asked.

The question was Claire, 2020. There is no great public demand free

general election. How many members of this house have received, in your

last few weeks of the last few months, letters and e-mails

clamouring for a general election? Hands up. Go. It is absolutely

clear. There has been no such demand. The reason given by the

prime ministers for a general election, Brexit, that is a feeble,

flimsy excuse and not taken in by anyone. I honourable friend said the

Government should not be complacent without getting a large majority. --

about getting it. Hopefully they will not receive one. When you

consider the hard done to the people in need, disabled, vulnerable, live

aid in employment, when this covenant has had a small majority,

just imagine what would happen if there was a large Tory majority. It

would be a nightmare. An absolute nightmare for those who we

represent. Millions of people in this country need the governments to

protect them and not be half them. I have -- not with a small, not with a

large majority. I was here Julie Jory Government of the 1980s and I

saw only too well the arm that was done to my constituents. Certainly

others. This motion before us is murky, complete the opportunist and

reflects badly on the Prime Minister. I just repeat these words,

made were cynical about politics in this country and unfortunately that

is a trait that has increased with whoever has responsibility for

producing, or perhaps all. I do say that this notion and this general

election which is coming your way for opportunistic reasons, we

increase the cynical feeling and that is a very damaging thing to the

democratic process. Thank you. I, too, will be voting against the

motion to day because I think it is totally unnecessary and I say that

as somebody who voted leave on the 23rd. Since then, I have had a

grudging respect for the way the Prime Minister has conducted herself

since you do go over. However, the justification of which she has given

for having a general election is quite frankly disingenuous. To

suggest that he needs a mandate to negotiate Brexit is just ridiculous.

She was given that mandate on the 24th of June by a majority of

British people and it is up to her now to carry that out. If she then

wishes to have another election at the end of the process, or to have

another referendum, then so be it. To justify it now is just as my

honourable colleague said, surely opportunistic. She said she needs a

larger majority because heard business in the house is likely to

be disrupted by an opposition party or by the House of Lords. Well, she

drew back to what happened when the Wilson Government was in power

between 64-66. He had a majority of three. The Callaghan current in the

1970s governed for five years without any majority. --

governments. If he is fearful of what could happen any House of

Lords, she should do exactly what stories have done in the past and

flog the plays that their own people to ensure she gets her way. There is

no justification for arguing that she needs to have a larger majority

in order to get the business of the house through. -- flood the place.

Furthermore, the quite frankly arrogant view that the electorate

should concentrate simply all in one narrow issue is treating the

electorate with contempt. I can only speak for my constituents, but when

they considered the issues, they will be asking the questions, why is

every school in my constituency losing out under the new funding

formula? Why is the City Council having to make the horrendous cuts

because the Government have at support grants. Whilst the dog

waiting times local hospitals increasing? There are just not

enough staff. While more and more hard-working families having...? I

will. I just wanted to point out that in

his questioning about why the things were happening to do things in his

constituency, I wanted to ask if he might addressed why my children's

school which is in his constituency, the children are now going up to

having 32 children in a class and I wonder if he agrees with me, I don't

remember that happening under a Labour Government. I thank my

colleagues. Of course, she is correct. Under a Labour Government,

we build schools for the future. We had short staffed centres, under

this Government, for as well, the programme has stopped and secondly,

short staff centres are being closed left, right and centre. My

constituents will ask other questions, why is it that more and

more hard-working families are being forced into the humiliation of

having to use food banks, because they do not have enough money at the

end of the week to feed and clothe their families? Why our energy

consumers paying ever increasing prices well the energy utility firms

are ripping them off in the sacred name of competition? And why are

young people, married and unmarried, unable to acquire proper housing for

themselves and very often have to stay with their in wars? These views

will be echoed throughout the country. There is no justification

for the selection and I will certainly be opposing it. Thank you

very much, Mr Speaker. I will be supporting emotion, because I think

is one of the members opposite side, it is rather bizarre that when the

Opposition says they want to keep a Tory Government in power, it makes

no sense. We have to put our case to be British people and see what

happens. We have arrived at a position today which I always

thought was inevitable. This was bound to happen. I never bought all

the golf about no election. As a political dilemma could work here,

which has resulted in this decision being inevitable. Given he is going

to support the Government, is he then confident we won't have a toy

Government returning post-election with two more years? What is the

follow through on his actions? The follow-through is to do what ever

you can to get rid of a Tory Government as soon as you can. That

is always the case. That may not work, but it's up to the British

people in an election. That is their choice. The reason I think we are in

an inevitable position is because I just wanted to pay a minor tribute

to Mr David Kaplan. -- David Cameron. When the history of the

early part of the 20th century comes to be written, you will have one

even most prominent roles in it. Not a particularly glorious tribute, but

decisions that he took will over time the damage this country

immensely. Members serving on the original EU Referendum Bill known at

the time as the Walton Bill. I remember sitting in a committee and

the then Prime Minister actually came into the committee room and sat

in the public gallery simply to pay all pieces to the hard right wingers

of the Tory party who were on that Bill committee. I have never seen or

heard the Prime Minister being faced with such ignominy as having to do

that. He gave them the guarantee of an in-house referendum. He did not

say he would renegotiate the terms of are you membership. -- EU

membership. This is the consequence of that. When I think you will go

down as one as the most damaging Prime Minister 's, but prominent

nonetheless, he is also a bit at jeopardy the entire future of the

United Kingdom. Not just our relationship with the European

Union, but these future of Scotland as part of the United Kingdom, and

again it was he who granted the referendum in the first place which

set the dynamic in train, which has destroyed the Labour Party in

Scotland, let's be frank and given them the more prominent role that

they enjoy today. He also has put in jeopardy our relationship with the

Republic of Ireland and also as the honourable gentleman from the DUP

mentioned earlier, put at risk the very stability of Northern Ireland

as an entity, whether or not as part of the United Kingdom. All of these

things add up and the damage that has been done will be with us for

decades. The people who will pay the biggest price as mentioned earlier

will be the young people. The next generation and those who come after.

It has permanently damage this country. I will vote for the general

election and say I don't think it will change anything. I think the

landscape or remain much the same after an election as it is now. It

will all follow from the calamitous decision of last June to leave the

European Union. I can understand that is a certain amount of bank to

me here today. Politics is neither science nor art and it certainly is

not religion. People do things for their own political advantage as has

every Prime Minister. I'm not intending to speak in this debate,

but in response to a question posed by the Honourable Member for Walsall

Norris said he wouldn't let me intervene to respond. I want to make

a couple points. I have received e-mails from constituents over the

last three weeks asking me to encourage the Prime Minister to call

a general election and go to the country once again. He seemed to be

implying that the one in the country was asking for this, but there were

members of my constituency were asking me to do that. When the Prime

Minister did make an announcement yesterday, initially I would say I

was in shock. Like my Right Honourable Friend, I was boldly

telling people that there was no chance of a general election

happening and I wasn't quite as bald as to put it in the papers, but both

verbally and in e-mails, I was telling people that I didn't believe

it was going to happen. Having listened to the reason the Prime

Minister gave yesterday, I am happy to the outcome to be position where

I do believe it is the right thing for the country. That we obtain a

new mandate to go into the negotiations to leave the EU and the

Prime Minister and the others who will begin negotiating our towns in

the strongest possible position in those negotiations. Limmy also say

that I'm very happy to stand on this Government's record of delivering

for this country. This is not just about Brexit negotiations, it is

about this Government has one of the best performing economies in the

world, record numbers of jobs, great investment in the NHS. I am per to

the letters continue with the job that we are doing on these benches

for delivering what our country needs and put us in the strongest

possible position. I want to make one final point for I finish, if the

Conservative Party is returned into Government with a substantially

reduced majority, I see to the leader of the Liberal Democrats,

will he then except that that is the word of the British people? That

they have returned the Conservative Party with a clear mandate to press

on and figures out of the European Union on the grounds that the Prime

Minister has set out and drop this opposition in gameplay to thwart the

democratic will of the British people? As someone who believes the

Prime Minister has presented the case with a selection on an entirely

false premise, I too will be voting against the motion today. I was not

acting for an election last week, the week before, I was arguing in

the context of the toxin in Northern Ireland there any mood to an

election in the near future wouldn't actually help the context of those

negotiations, so my mind has not changed, so why should I pretend

that it has? I'm not going to be goaded into voting differently

because of the Prime Minister's actions and standards. She is

accused others are playing games in this Parliament. Her argument is

that she has no confidence in Parliament. We have this bizarre

situation where we had a referendum that was about taking back control,

parliamentary sovereignty, but then we have a Prime Minister who says

she has no confidence in Parliament. She does not trust the Opposition,

she confers all sort of exaggerated powers to block and she complained

that the House of Lords. If members of the Tory benches are concerned

about the House of Lords, moved to abolish it or move to put forward a

confident, coherent democratic reform, but stop using them as props

in this argument. The Prime Minister is pretending she needs the election

knows that she has a strong hand in the short-term, when we really know

that she wants a free hand in the longer term in terms of the regular

room around periods of adjustment and transitions and other things

that too many of her colleagues have been to straight on. Does my

honourable friend appreciate that the nearest power level to what is

happening now in this campaign for an election is the... I am

interested in hearing the honourable gentleman, but I would like to face

the house, thank you. You were pretty busy talking.

LAUGHTER I was being spoken to by an

illustrious Member of the Opposition whip. We'll hear from the Honourable

Member. The nearest parallel is the election of 1974 when Ted Heath, the

then Prime Minister, decided on a very narrow argument that the miners

were on strike and that it would be about to runs the country. Most

general elections are about a lot of things, this one was about a

specific thing. Can I say to my honourable friend, what happened in

the event was that the Labour Party finished up with the largest number

of seats and the Queen Centre Ted Heath to try and form a Coalition

with the Liberals and the Liberals ran away. I appreciate the right

honourable members intervention and I would also make the point that we

have going to bring in comparisons with that election in 1970 Coric,

the power-sharing objective formed in Northern Ireland fell as a

consequence of that election. -- election in 1974. That was because

of the balance of forces. The collection has been called without

regard for the fact that there are a sensitive negotiations ongoing in

Northern Ireland currently in its hard to see how this happening there

won't have an impact on those negotiations. It will probably call

the attitude of pointed to some of the issues they are dealing with. It

will colour their attitude to each other in terms of trust, but also

the British and will not be in a position to give undertakings or

commitment in the contest of those negotiations. How are we going to

get any sort of comprehends of agreement in those hours of

circumstances? As someone who worked for the Good Friday agreement and

its implementation, I do not take those issues lately and I cannot be

dismissive of them. I want to make sure we have the agreement fully

protected and that is why I am no saboteur of anything that has been

endorsed by a referendum, least of all but the Irish people endorsed by

referendum unable to put the Good Friday agreement. I worry about the

implications of Brexit for the Good Friday agreement, I worry about the

fact that the Government are in denial about the fact that the

process of Brexit has implications for that agreement, but of course I

also do recognise that the agreement gives us the machinery to answer a

lot of the questions and challenges for the whole island of Ireland in

times of Brexit. It gives us the material to make sure we can operate

in the future in ways that continue to be supported by and funded by the

EU, we can keep the island as a comment market, even got market, in

sector after sector if we use the Good Friday agreement. We go for it

in this election in a positive way, but with no pretence that the

election was necessary and no pretence that the Prime Minister is

justified in the Times that she has used an ordinary by the pretence.

I believe this is the sort of thing that gives politics a bad name in

our country and it leads to the alienation of people from the

blissful process because there's only one reason the Prime Minister

what they general election on the 8th of June and that is because she

figures she has a better chance of winning it now than she does in the

future. It is therefore the most blatant abuse of the democratic

procedure for party political advantage. As the campaign goes on,

it'll be seen as that. This has nothing to do with the country was

lacked interest and to do with the management of the Conservative

Party. I give two reasons why that is the case. She has suggested she

was a majority. He is not lost any vote on Brexit only last year with a

majority of less than 30. She has not won any, rather. The majority is

already there. She also said that this will give clarity to the Brexit

process. We have been trying from ten long ones for clarity. Every

question you have to as being met with silence and refusal to actually

say what Brexit does indeed mean. I do believe for one minute that the

Tory party manifesto for the 8th of June will spell out exactly what

they plan to Britain is both Brexit. Who is giving you? We will not be

any clearer at this election as to what Brexit means than they are

right now. -- post-Brexit. Thank you. The media are reporting that up

to 30 sitting Tory MPs face being prosecuted for electoral fraud and

the Crown Prosecution Service will announce whether it intends to press

charges very soon. But I honourable friend think this might have

anything to do with the Prime Minister was my change of heart? I

do. I think it is remarkably suspicious but my concern is that

actually what the Prime Minister wanted to his silence dissent and

disagreement in the house and the country. Therefore her instincts are

not democratic, they are authoritarian. That is a great

worry. Can I just turned to the situation in Scotland? There are two

reasons why the people of Scotland should be given another choice about

self governance. The first is because -- not because people who

lost the referendum respect the results but that changed afterwards.

The United Kingdom people voted to be part of will no longer the

dominant be there in the future. The second is, despite a comprised

position by the Scottish Government that said it would neither challenge

the Brexit deal argue for independence, that would fall back

on our faces. There is no option but to offer people in Scotland the

other agility and the choice between having a hard Tory isolation Britain

are taking matters into their own hands. This is not required as a

mandate to have that second referendum because the Scottish

Government already have that mandate. This will be a judgment,

Prime Minister, on your refusal to agree to the wishes of the Scottish

Parliament and I would like to have this in finishing. If the

Conservative Party loses the general election in Scotland, will you stop

blocking the right of the Scottish people do have its choice? Very

unfair. Any generation. Northern Ireland is in a state of the

military have no executive, no Government and I wonder if the Prime

Minister fully considers what it may happen to us there. Before the

recess, I was given an excellent answer as to our position in the

union and I'm very, very grateful to this part I want to get three points

across. One is not about this election, we fully supported a

public version. The public in Northern Ireland are fed up to the G

with elections. They have had very many, see no point in another

Assembly election. If you watched what was going on in Easter and

watched some paramilitaries dressed in west Belfast and I think

somewhere else marching carrying the European Union flag as if it were

their banner. Brexit for art is a very different and brittle world. We

fully support and the divinely the right way forward but it will be

used by Sinn Fein to really try and break up the union and the need that

support. I add that, in the manifesto, they look at how they

deal with Northern Ireland APPLAUSE Special stages but also how you look

in that manifesto at ensuring that they have a workable Government.

That's what the Ulster Unionist Party all about. Getting back to

Central parties running Northern Ireland and finally, the last point,

making sure the manifesto looks after our Armed Forces, our

ex-servicemen. Legacy is playing its way out, not protecting the people

who need protected were doing their duty. We will support the motion to

date. Thank you. Several members have already pointed out today that

the Prime Minister head up a party with the current majority that was

gained by her party cheating in the last general election and BLS jawed

committee has signed on as a result today, she had a brass neck to give

a speech that leadership. I want to know what leadership is the prime

ministers showing on this? She refused and the question from the

honourable member from Bolsover. She refused to answer the member for

Glasgow 's south about electoral cheating. Will they take part? What

interventions has she made to make sure this cheating does not happen

again? If the honourable lady mask. Like the order. Mr Speaker, tries

the honourable member has accused members of cheating. There is no

proof of cheating and he should withdraw the remarks. I think it's a

matter of taste rather than order for the honourable lady but he has

made that with accuracy and it is forward. Thank you concluded?

Condemns a further nine leadership interventions by the Prime Minister,

she consistently said that would be no general election, we had a

U-turn. She did not and the likely change their mind on the single

market. No evidence about what a hard Tory Brexit will mean converge

to Scotland's playing in the single market. She ignore the Scottish

Government and Scottish Parliament. I have to, shows a real leadership.

Thank you. Saying that it is voting for Christmas -- turkeys voting for

Christmas. It is what they are doing. The Prime Minister needs 433

MPs to support her to day. She has gone on television, told the

build-up will be a general election will stop if Parliaments doesn't

back her, Labour did and do her tune, if you does not have 433, will

she resigned? That and they could change the views of the Labour

members. Under the standing order, I must now put the question. The

question is that there shall be an early parliamentary general

election. As many of that opinion say aye, on the contrary know. On

the contrary, no? Division! Clear the lobby. Order. Order. The ayes to

the right, 522. The noes to the left, 13. The ayes to the right,

five to two. The noes to the left, 13. The ayes have it, the ayes have

it. Unlock. Whitehall, the heart of Govan but

could you balance this with Government and the one of the

largest employers of the world. So, you want to be Health