John Baron MP tables amendment to Brexit motion

MP says Government must renegotiate backstop

Today begins the ‘meaningful vote’ debate on the Withdrawal Agreement the Government has negotiated with the European Union, which will culminate in the votes on 11th December. John Baron MP has tabled an amendment to the motion stating that Parliament should not accept the Withdrawal Agreement until there is a unilateral mechanism to enable the UK to withdraw from the ‘backstop trap’.

John said,

“There are many aspects of the Withdrawal Agreement with which I am uncomfortable. Paying £39 billion for further negotiations, with no certainty of success at the end, is one, as is the fact that we would continue to remain subject to the jurisdiction of the ECJ for the duration of the transition period.”

“However, the major objection is around the ‘backstop trap’, whereby the UK could be kept in suspended animation within a customs union, unable to leave except with the agreement of a European Union. For one thing, this would prevent the UK from signing its own free trade deals with countries outside the EU – one of Brexit’s greatest advantages.”

“My amendment would address this by preventing the Withdrawal Agreement from clearing Parliament unless and until the Government had successfully negotiated the right to take the unilateral decision to exit the backstop. After all, no-one would take a job which only allowed their employer to terminate their contract.”

“This change would insert a much-needed degree of reciprocity into the Agreement, and would do much to draw the poison from it in the eyes of Brexiteers who understand that compromises must be made in order to follow through on the outcome of the 2016 referendum. I look forward to speaking to my amendment during the debate.”

Notes to Editors:

• The Government motion and amendment are available online at: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmagenda/OP181204.pdf.