Oral Answers to Questions

Carol Monaghan Excerpts

Wednesday 30th January 2019 Commons Chamber

[Karen Bradley]

The hon. Gentleman will recall that last year when the budget was set, I made sure, as Secretary of State, that all the main parties and the Opposition were part of the process. As I say, I would much rather that Ministers in Northern Ireland were setting the budget, but given the situation, we have to work together to make sure that a budget can be set.

[Carol Monaghan (Glasgow North West) (SNP)]

4. What recent discussions she has had with the Prime Minister on the backstop protocol in the EU Withdrawal Agreement.

[Angela Crawley (Lanark and Hamilton East) (SNP)]

8. What recent discussions she has had with the Prime Minister on the backstop protocol in the EU Withdrawal Agreement.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Karen Bradley)]

I have regular discussions with the Prime Minister and others about all aspects of our exit from the European Union.

[Carol Monaghan]

Last October, the Secretary of State gave a guarantee that her Government would not renege on the backstop, saying:

“We are committed to everything we have agreed to in the joint report and we will ensure there is no border on the island of Ireland.”

Can she explain why there has now been a U-turn and the Government’s policy has changed to ditching the backstop?

[Karen Bradley]

The commitments made in the joint report remain. Those commitments were that we would find a solution to the Irish border, ideally through our future relationship. We are still committed to that being the case. Last night, the House showed that there is a majority to pass the withdrawal agreement if changes are made to the backstop. The Prime Minister is working on that basis.