John Baron MP: PM should present ultimatum to the EU

MP: Either amend backstop or we leave without a deal on 12th April

John Baron MP says the time has come for the Government to stop crawling, stand up and reflect the country’s confidence and position in the world – otherwise it is not fit for purpose. Yesterday MPs again rejected the four options tabled by ‘Remain’ MPs, after John’s two Brexit motions were not selected for debate. John is re-tabling his motions (to amend the backstop and leave on ‘no deal’ terms on 12 April) for what is planned to be further ‘indicative votes’ tomorrow (3 April). Today will see a special Cabinet session at No.10 to discuss the various options open to the Government.

John said,

“The majorities against these ‘Remain’ motions would have been higher had the Party been whipped accordingly, even if it had led to ministerial resignations. In particular, my motion to amend the backstop to stop it being becoming indefinite, which reflected the Brady amendment, could have secured a majority had it been selected by the Speaker. The EU could write the textbook on eleventh hour deals.”

“With no clear resolution and further ‘Remain’ defections, the Prime Minister should now seize the initiative and present a simple ultimatum to the EU – either amend the backstop so that it could no longer be indefinite, or the Government will respect Article 50 and leave on no deal/WTO terms on 12th April. And this time, contrary to how the negotiations were conducted, the Government should mean it – it’s time to show backbone.”

“The Prime Minister assured MPs on 12th February that we were prepared for no deal. The various ‘scare’ stories about stockpiling, planes not flying and ports being clogged have all been discredited by the relevant authorities. The predictions of gloom will be as wrong as they were in 2016 when the Bank of England had to apologise. Comparative advantage, trade and economic reality will prevail.”

“It’s now time to honour the referendum result, the triggering of Article 50 and our manifesto, and end this uncertainty by making it clear that either the EU agrees to amend the backstop, or the UK leaves on no deal/WTO terms on 12th April – terms by which we profitably trade with many countries outside the EU. The time has come for the Government to reflect the country’s confidence and position in the world, otherwise it is not fit for purpose.”

Notes to Editors:

John’s motions yesterday were as follows:

• Motion a) called 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.

• Motion b) called for the UK to leave the EU on 12th April with no deal if no Withdrawal Agreement has cleared the House of Commons

• John asked the Prime Minister on 12th February whether we are fully prepared to leave the EU on no deal/WTO terms. She responded, ‘we are indeed’. A full transcript is available online at: http://bit.ly/2Og3ehs.

• John voted against the change in UK law of our EU exit date from 29th March.