Emergency debate on Monday, 9 September 2019, in the House of Commons, led by Jeremy Corbyn. The answering member was Dominic Raab.

European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019 (Rule of Law)

Motion that this House has considered the welcome completion of all parliamentary stages of the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 6) Bill and has considered the matter of the importance of the rule of law and Ministers' obligation to comply with the law. Emergency debate following a Standing Order No. 24 application. Closure motion. Agreed to on question. Main question agreed to.

Secondary information

Type: Parliamentary proceeding
Reference: 664 cc555-583
Session: 2017-19
Department: Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Procedure: Closure motions
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Related items: European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019 (Rule of Law)
Monday, 9 September 2019
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons
Proceeding contributions: John Bercow | 664 c560 (Link to this contribution)
We now come to the motion in the name of the Leader of the Opposition, to be moved under Standing...; Jeremy Corbyn | 664 c560 (Link to this contribution)
I beg to move,
That this House has considered the welcome completion of all parliamentary s...; Ruth Jones | 664 c560 (Link to this contribution)
Where is he?; Jeremy Corbyn | 664 cc560-1 (Link to this contribution)
Indeed. I do not keep the Prime Minister’s diary. He may keep his own, but he is certainly not he...; Angela Eagle | 664 c561 (Link to this contribution)
Last week, I asked the Prime Minister whether, if the Bill became law, he, as the Prime Minister ...; Jeremy Corbyn | 664 c561 (Link to this contribution)
I do not really wish anyone dead in a ditch, even if that is their own wish. The first answer tha...; Ian Blackford | 664 c561 (Link to this contribution)
The Leader of the Opposition is making some very important points. The conduct not just of this d...; Jeremy Corbyn | 664 c561 (Link to this contribution)
The right hon. Gentleman is quite right. Language has consequences, as people trot out what has b...; Peter Bone | 664 c561 (Link to this contribution)
The Leader of the Opposition is very generous in giving way. When talking about the rule of law, ...; Jeremy Corbyn | 664 cc561-2 (Link to this contribution)
That is an entirely hypothetical question. The question that the Prime Minister has to answer is:...; Lord Austin of Dudley | 664 c562 (Link to this contribution)
Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?; Jeremy Corbyn | 664 c562 (Link to this contribution)
One second. Even the Prime Minister himself implies that he will break the law.; Lord Austin of Dudley | 664 c562 (Link to this contribution)
Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?; Jeremy Corbyn | 664 c562 (Link to this contribution)
No, I will not give way at the moment.
No. 10 has briefed that the Prime Minister will defy...; Vicky Ford | 664 c562 (Link to this contribution)
I would like to go back to the point that was just made about what happens if we reach the end of...; Jeremy Corbyn | 664 c562 (Link to this contribution)
We have always wanted to get a deal, but what we do not want is the no-deal exit with all the dan...; Bob Seely | 664 c562 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Leader of the Opposition give way?; Jeremy Corbyn | 664 c562 (Link to this contribution)
For the last time.; Bob Seely | 664 c562 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for giving way. On a point of clarification, he says how importa...; Jeremy Corbyn | 664 cc562-3 (Link to this contribution)
I am glad the hon. Gentleman managed to read out his intervention that was given to him earlier.<...; Lord Austin of Dudley | 664 c563 (Link to this contribution)
Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?; Jeremy Corbyn | 664 c563 (Link to this contribution)
No, I will not give way any more.
The right hon. Member for Hastings and Rye resigned, sayi...; Lord Austin of Dudley | 664 c563 (Link to this contribution)
Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?; Jeremy Corbyn | 664 cc563-4 (Link to this contribution)
No, I will not give way. I have made that clear already.
In her resignation letter, the rig...; John Bercow | 664 c564 (Link to this contribution)
I seek a right hon. or hon. Member on the Government Benches, but it is not immediately obvious t...; Anna Soubry | 664 c564 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Is this in order? I think we all want to know who is going to re...; John Bercow | 664 c564 (Link to this contribution)
The right hon. Lady may be flummoxed or irked to discover that the Government do not notify me of...; Peter Bone | 664 c564 (Link to this contribution)
Thank you, Mr Speaker. [Interruption.] I think it a slightly outrageous suggestion from the shado...; Anne Main | 664 c564 (Link to this contribution)
Will my hon. Friend confirm that one of the special circumstances in which the European Union wou...; Peter Bone | 664 c565 (Link to this contribution)
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend, and it may well be that tonight the Leader of the Opposit...; Nigel Evans | 664 c565 (Link to this contribution)
Does my hon. Friend agree that, frankly, Members of Parliament should not pick and choose the law...; Peter Bone | 664 c565 (Link to this contribution)
On my hon. Friend’s first point, absolutely any Government must obey the law of the land. There i...; Barry Gardiner | 664 c565 (Link to this contribution)
Bring back Eric Forth!; Peter Bone | 664 c565 (Link to this contribution)
I am sure that Eric Forth was much better. He will probably be looking down, saying, “Oh my goodn...; Stephen Doughty | 664 c565 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman and I obviously disagree on the Brexit issue, but he would surely accept that ...; Peter Bone | 664 c565 (Link to this contribution)
Do I think that the Prime Minister should waste his time coming to an Standing Order No. 24 debat...; Lord Coaker | 664 c566 (Link to this contribution)
This debate is important because it is about the Prime Minister obeying the law. This is not just...; Peter Bone | 664 c566 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman might want to withdraw that remark, because I have seen no comments from the L...; Ian Blackford | 664 cc566-7 (Link to this contribution)
According to Pericles:
“Freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage ...; Liz Saville Roberts | 664 c567 (Link to this contribution)
Does my right hon. Friend agree with whoever was responsible for writing a front-page article in ...; Ian Blackford | 664 c567 (Link to this contribution)
Absolutely they are, and I say to the Prime Minister: be very careful. Do not obstruct the rule o...; Bob Seely | 664 c567 (Link to this contribution)
If the right hon. Gentleman is so concerned about democracy, why does he not vote for a general e...; Ian Blackford | 664 c567 (Link to this contribution)
This is a debate about observing the law. If the hon. Gentleman wants to speak in a debate about ...; Patricia Gibson | 664 c567 (Link to this contribution)
Government Members have said time and again that the Prime Minister and the Government will obey ...; Ian Blackford | 664 cc567-8 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend says shenanigans; I would perhaps prefer to use some other words that I am prohibi...; Lord Redwood | 664 cc568-9 (Link to this contribution)
Of course the Government and all Members of Parliament must obey the law, but Parliament must als...; Adam Afriyie | 664 c569 (Link to this contribution)
The Opposition have taken a really bizarre position. They have said that, even if they did manage...; Lord Redwood | 664 c569 (Link to this contribution)
That is even more bizarre. Normally, Governments do their best negotiation and then come back and...; Jo Swinson | 664 cc569-570 (Link to this contribution)
It is astonishing that we are even having a debate about whether a Prime Minister is going to adh...; Lord Redwood | 664 c570 (Link to this contribution)
Is there any limit on the conditions that the EU could impose on us to get the extension that the...; Jo Swinson | 664 c571 (Link to this contribution)
That is absolute nonsense. As the right hon. Gentleman well knows, our views on Brexit differ int...; Geoffrey Clifton-Brown | 664 c571 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Lady give way?; Jo Swinson | 664 c571 (Link to this contribution)
I want to make some progress.
If an extension were not granted and we were in the days runn...; Michael Tomlinson | 664 c571 (Link to this contribution)
It a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for East Dunbartonshire (Jo Swinson). I will start my spe...; Anne Main | 664 c571 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is making some powerful points, and, like him, I completely agree with those point...; Michael Tomlinson | 664 c571 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for making that point. I was going to mention the people’s vote, ...; Wera Hobhouse | 664 c572 (Link to this contribution)
I am astonished by the way in which members of other parties proclaim our Liberal Democrat vision...; Michael Tomlinson | 664 c572 (Link to this contribution)
I am delighted that the hon. Lady has turned up for the debate. However, she failed to hear a pre...; Desmond Swayne | 664 c572 (Link to this contribution)
It is hardly surprising that we should take that view, since the Liberal Democrats have form for ...; Michael Tomlinson | 664 c572 (Link to this contribution)
I am grateful to my right hon. Friend.
There have been questions about why my right hon. Fr...; Anna Soubry | 664 c572 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?; Michael Tomlinson | 664 c572 (Link to this contribution)
No, I will not. I am going to carry on.
The leader of the Labour party stood up and said th...; Tracy Brabin | 664 c572 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?; Michael Tomlinson | 664 cc572-3 (Link to this contribution)
I am going to make some progress.
We have said that we are going to leave on 31 October. It...; William Cash | 664 c573 (Link to this contribution)
In examining the question of the rule of law does my hon. Friend agree that it is essential to lo...; Michael Tomlinson | 664 c573 (Link to this contribution)
I agree entirely with my hon. Friend. So far no one has suggested during the course of this debat...; 664 c573 (Link to this contribution); John Bercow | 664 c573 (Link to this contribution)
I called Mr Austin earlier and then he was disappointed, so I feel some compassion towards the ho...; Lord Austin of Dudley | 664 c573 (Link to this contribution)
The part of the motion that I want to speak to is about politicians upholding the rule of law, an...; Liz McInnes | 664 c574 (Link to this contribution)
Why don’t you go and sit somewhere else?; Lord Austin of Dudley | 664 c574 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Lady asks why I don’t go and sit somewhere else. I am sitting here—[Interruption.] I am ...; Liz McInnes | 664 c574 (Link to this contribution)
Why?; Lord Austin of Dudley | 664 c574 (Link to this contribution)
I will explain why: I am standing here because I was elected—[Interruption.] Because I think—[Int...; Anne Main | 664 c574 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. We are having great difficulty hearing the hon. Gentleman, who i...; John Bercow | 664 c574 (Link to this contribution)
Order. I do not wish to be unkind to the hon. Lady, but she is not entirely averse to making loud...; Lord Austin of Dudley | 664 c574 (Link to this contribution)
The more Labour Members interrupt, the longer it will take: I am going to make these points. The ...; Geraint Davies | 664 c574 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I understand that this debate is about whether the Prime Ministe...; John Bercow | 664 c575 (Link to this contribution)
I am extremely grateful to the hon. Gentleman, and his antennae are keenly attuned to the debate....; Lord Austin of Dudley | 664 c575 (Link to this contribution)
Well, Mr Speaker, my speeches then were a lot shorter than yours.; John Bercow | 664 c575 (Link to this contribution)
That may be, but what I would say to the hon. Gentleman is that, by common consent, mine were con...; Lord Austin of Dudley | 664 c575 (Link to this contribution)
I am not going to argue that point, Mr Speaker.
This is a debate about whether politicians ...; Liz McInnes | 664 c575 (Link to this contribution)
Why don’t you go and stand over there?; Lord Austin of Dudley | 664 c575 (Link to this contribution)
I have explained why I am not going over there, but I will tell the hon. Lady this.; Liz McInnes | 664 c575 (Link to this contribution)
You’re not welcome here.; Lord Austin of Dudley | 664 c575 (Link to this contribution)
I am here because voters in Dudley North sent me here to represent them, and none of my views hav...; Liz McInnes | 664 c575 (Link to this contribution)
How are you going to do that?; Lord Austin of Dudley | 664 c575 (Link to this contribution)
We’ll see.; Liz McInnes | 664 c575 (Link to this contribution)
You’re going to have to answer to yours.; Lord Austin of Dudley | 664 cc575-6 (Link to this contribution)
Don’t worry about that.
No other senior figure in the Labour party’s history would have jok...; Geraint Davies | 664 cc576-7 (Link to this contribution)
Our fundamental values are democracy, human rights and the rule of law—those are our fundamental ...; Lord McCabe | 664 c577 (Link to this contribution)
We rightly heard earlier today several tributes recognising your role, Mr Speaker, in protecting ...; Madeleine Moon | 664 c577 (Link to this contribution)
I associate myself with my hon. Friend’s comments in relation to Mr Speaker because, to be quite ...; Lord McCabe | 664 c578 (Link to this contribution)
I certainly agree with my hon. Friend. I fear the attempts to silence and close down this House. ...; Lilian Greenwood | 664 c578 (Link to this contribution)
Does my hon. Friend agree that if we do not reach a deal with the European Union while we are a m...; Lord McCabe | 664 c578 (Link to this contribution)
I think that that is the conclusion that most rational people have come to. That seems the inevit...; Wayne David | 664 c578 (Link to this contribution)
This is about the rule of law, and we should be clear—there should be no ifs or buts about it—tha...; Lord McCabe | 664 c578 (Link to this contribution)
I totally agree.; Patricia Gibson | 664 c578 (Link to this contribution)
Does the hon. Gentleman share my concern that, during this debate, we have heard two irreconcilab...; Lord McCabe | 664 cc578-9 (Link to this contribution)
The terrible fear is that the Prime Minister and other members of the Government are saying one t...; Geoffrey Clifton-Brown | 664 c579 (Link to this contribution)
The people of this country are angry. They will not understand what this debate is all about. The...; Dominic Raab | 664 cc579-580 (Link to this contribution)
It is a great pleasure to wind up this debate, and I pay tribute to the interesting points that h...; Lord Redwood | 664 c580 (Link to this contribution)
Would my right hon. Friend like to comment on the way in which the Commons swept aside the idea t...; Dominic Raab | 664 c580 (Link to this contribution)
I thank my right hon. Friend for that. Of course, all the normal checks and balances that would a...; Lady Hermon | 664 c580 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Dominic Raab | 664 cc580-1 (Link to this contribution)
I am going to make a bit of progress, because we are coming to the close.
In her contributi...; John Bercow | 664 c581 (Link to this contribution)
To wind up the debate, as it is in his name, I call the right hon. Gentleman, Mr Jeremy Corbyn.; Jeremy Corbyn | 664 c581 (Link to this contribution)
It is extraordinary that the House is having to debate whether the Prime Minister will abide by a...; Lady Hermon | 664 c581 (Link to this contribution)
Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?; Jeremy Corbyn | 664 c581 (Link to this contribution)
Yes, of course.; Lady Hermon | 664 c581 (Link to this contribution)
I am very grateful to the Leader of the Opposition, who is much more courteous than the Foreign S...; Jeremy Corbyn | 664 c582 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the hon. Lady for that intervention; she makes her point very well. If the Foreign Secret...; Dominic Raab | 664 c582 (Link to this contribution)
indicated dissent.; Jeremy Corbyn | 664 c582 (Link to this contribution)
The Foreign Secretary shakes his head and does not wish to intervene.
The situation is simp...; Peter Bone | 664 c582 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Jeremy Corbyn | 664 c583 (Link to this contribution)
No, I will not give way.
I simply say that the House has an opportunity tonight to express ...; Nicholas Brown | 664 c583 (Link to this contribution)
claimed to move the closure (Standing Order No. 36).
Question put forthwith, That the Quest...; John Bercow | 664 c583 (Link to this contribution)
Order. There is quite a lot of noisy chuntering from a sedentary position. The hon. Member for Mi...
Subjects: Prime Minister Ministers Negotiations Rule of law Brexit UK relations with EU
Legislation: European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019
Link: View this Parliamentary proceeding on hansard.parliament.uk

European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019 (Rule of Law)

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