We now come to motion number
four on Section 13 (1b)
of the European Union
Withdrawal Act 2018.
To move the motion, I
call the prime minister.
Mr Speaker.
Membership of any
union that involves
the pooling of
sovereignty can only
be sustained with the
consent of the people.
Hear, hear.
In the referendum...
Hear, hear.
In the referendum of 2016, the
biggest democratic exercise
in our history, the British
public withdrew that consent.
It is unfortunate
for government to be
in contempt of parliament.
Would she agree that it
is worse for parliament
to be in contempt of
the British people?
Which is what will happen if
we do not deliver on Brexit?
Hear, hear.
Well, can I...
Prime minister?
Can I say to my
honourable friend,
I absolutely agree that
it is the duty, I believe,
of this parliament, it is the
duty of us as politicians,
to deliver on the result of the
vote that the British people
gave in 2016 in the referendum.
They voted.
We gave them the choice.
They voted to leave the EU.
It is up to us to deliver that
leaving of the European Union
in the interests of our country.
Can I ask the prime minister,
obviously in terms of the views
and all of that I'm quite happy
to put it to a test any time.
We will happily go
to the electorate
and put our views to
the people if needs be.
And I'm quite certain that we
would be returned in greater
numbers than we are today.
So I'm quite happy to
take on the challenge that
has been put down.
But can I ask the
prime minister,
in terms of guaranteeing
Northern Ireland's position,
she will remember
that in paragraph 50
of the joint report
that we spent four days
negotiating there
were guarantees
given to Northern Ireland.
Never mind the words that have
been said in this house today.
It was actually in the text.
Why has that been deleted?
Why has she not kept that
in the withdrawal agreement?
Why has it not been translated?
And that is what we
have a problem with.
Words are good.
It's the legal text, it's what's
in the agreement that matters.
So the backstop is not a
trick to trap us in the EU.
It actually gives us
some important benefits
of access to the EU's
market without many
of the obligations.
And that is
something the EU will
want to let happen, let alone
persist for a long time.
What it would say about
the state of our democracy
if the biggest
vote in our history
were to be rerun because
the majority in this house
didn't like the outcome?
Hear, hear.
And what it would do
to that democracy,
and what forces
it would unleash?
This house voted to give the
decision to the British people.
This house promised we
would honour their decision.
If we betray that promise,
if we betray that promise,
how can we expect them
to trust us again?
Hear, hear.
If we put aside our differences
and remember what unites us,
if we broker an honourable
compromise in the interests not
of ourselves but of those
we were sent here to serve,
if we come together and do
our duty to our constituents,
then we will pass the test that
history has set for us today.
It's not easy when the
passions run so deep.
But looking around this chamber,
I know we can meet this moment.
So I promise you today,
this is the very best deal
for the British people.
I ask you to back it in the best
interests of our constituents,
and our country.
And with my whole heart,
I commend this motion
to the house.
