>>Mr Speaker:
Order. Order.
>>Vote Result:
The ayes to the right 311. The noes to the
left 293.
>>Mr Speaker:
The ayes to the right 311. The noes to the
left 293. So the ayes have it. the ayes have
it. Unlock. Order. Point of order Keir Starmer.
>>Keir Starmer:
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. The House
has now spoken, and this is of huge constitutional
and political significance. It is, I think,
unprecedented for the House to find Ministers
in contempt. The motion makes it clear that
the Government must now publish the Attorney
General’s final legal advice in full. I
hope that they will now confirm and comply
with that order, but if they fail to respond,
what steps can I and others take to ensure
that they do comply with the motion and before
the votes that we shall have next Tuesday?
>>Mr Speaker:
Before responding to the right hon. and learned
Gentleman’s point of order, I will of course
hear a point of order from the Leader of the
House.
>>Andrea Leadsom:
Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker.
We have tested the opinion of the House twice
on this very serious subject. We have listened
carefully, and in the light of the expressed
will of the House, we will publish the final
and full advice provided by the Attorney General
to the Cabinet; but, recognising the serious
constitutional issues that this raises, I
have referred the matter to the Committee
of Privileges so that it can consider the
implications of the Humble Address.
>>Mr Speaker:
I am grateful to the right hon. and learned
Member for Holborn and St Pancras (Keir Starmer)
for his point of order, and to the Leader
of the House for her response. [Interruption.]
Some Members are saying, from a sedentary
position, “When?” I had intended to say
that I expected Ministers to comply with the
verdict of the House. If the Leader of the
House wants to offer a further and better
particular on that point now, or immediately
after the point of order from the right hon.
and learned Gentleman, she can do so, but
if not, I would certainly expect to have fuller
information on that matter provided to the
House very soon.
>>Keir Starmer:
Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker.
Will you please advise me what steps we can
take to ensure that the process that has just
been outlined is completed by next Tuesday,
when we vote?
>>Mr Speaker:
It would seem to me to be unimaginable that
it would not be, but of course I will hear
from the Leader of the House.
>>Andrea Leadsom:
Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker.
The Government will respond tomorrow.
>>Mr Speaker:
I am extremely grateful to the Leader of the
House for the clarity of that confirmation.
I think that it has satisfied the curiosity
of Members, and that we can leave it there.
