John Baron MP supports Boris’ EU Deal

MP says Parliament should stop imposing delays

John Baron MP is supporting the Prime Minister’s revised Withdrawal Agreement, as it abolishes the previous version of the backstop – which could have kept the UK trapped inside a customs union with the EU for as long as the EU wanted. Instead, the new Withdrawal Agreement has a democratic exit mechanism to the backstop, and ensures that Northern Ireland remains an integral part of the United Kingdom, able to benefit from future free trade deals between the UK and other countries. John voted with the Government on Saturday, against the amendment tabled by Sir Oliver Letwin.

In the Chamber on Saturday, John asked the Prime Minister,

“I wholeheartedly commend the Prime Minister for abolishing the anti-democratic backstop. On that basis, I will, having opposed the previous deal, be supporting this deal. Given that I and most of us in this place want a fair and good trade deal, and prefer that to no deal, does he accept that by abolishing the anti-democratic backstop we actually not only make a good and fair trade deal more likely, but we almost guarantee it given the common position we start from and our common interests with the EU?”

The Prime Minister agreed with John’s assessment, and said that a good trade deal is the Government’s intention in the next phase of the Brexit talks.

Later during the debate, John asked the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU,

“It is right that we examine the detail in this place, and the Secretary of State is doing a great job in answering the questions, but may I suggest to him that we, as a collective body, need a slightly more optimistic note? It is my firm belief that now we have got rid of the backstop, we will achieve a fair and good trade deal by December 2020. We should be focused on that, rather than on all the minor detail. It is a bright future, if we decide to take it today.”

The Secretary of State responded that Brexit unlocks the potential for many excellent trade deals with countries across the world.

Today, John said,

“I am disappointed that the Speaker today prevented the decisive vote on the Prime Minister’s revised deal. This would have sent a strong message, both to the country and to the EU, that Parliament is getting behind this new agreement. However, I look forward to supporting the Government when it presents its Brexit legislation tomorrow and later this week.”

“It is imperative that we respect the referendum result, as voters are fed up of this remain Parliament imposing repeated delays.”