John Baron MP votes against Withdrawal Agreement

MP urges Prime Minister to embrace a WTO Brexit

Today in the House of Commons, MPs considered the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated between the Government and the European Union. John Baron MP voted against the Withdrawal Agreement because the potential for an indefinite Northern Irish backstop remains unchanged.

John said,

“No-one agrees to be bound by a legal settlement from which only the other party can release you. As the Attorney General’s legal advice warns, this is the very situation the UK could have found itself in if the Prime Minister’s deal had been ratified. In line with my two previous votes on the Withdrawal Agreement, which remains unchanged, I voted against it today.”

“Now it has been defeated for the third time, I urge the Prime Minister to ditch her deal, respect Article 50 which was passed by a huge majority two years ago, and with Parliament having voted down her deal, now embrace the legal default position which is to exit the EU on no deal / WTO terms on 12th April.”

“We profitably trade on WTO terms with many countries outside the EU – there is no reason we can not do the same with the EU. The Government, including the Prime Minister herself, has repeatedly reassured MPs that we are fully prepared to leave on WTO terms.”

Notes to Editors:

• On Monday, MPs will return for the second day of indicative votes. John has tabled two motions (a and b).
• a) calls for the UK to leave the EU on 22nd May with an amended Withdrawal Agreement containing a unilateral UK right to exit the Northern Ireland backstop.
• b) calls for the UK to leave the EU on 12th April with no deal if no Withdrawal Agreement has cleared the House of Commons.
• At the beginning of the debate, it will be up to Mr Speaker which motions are selected.