on this matter and may i just point out that we entered the one unitedion as kingdom. we will be leaving as one united kingdom. without idealving will be disastrous for the country, not least for manufacturing businesses across the midlands. the only way that this will happen is if people refuse the .eal we do leave on the 29th of march. prime minister may: my right honorable friend is right. make sure weto leave with a deal is to have a deal and we will leave. >> she says she's going back for more assurances on the backstop.

is she not think she would be better able to negotiate if the eu new that this house had voted overwhelmingly against the deal? prime minister may: i indicated it is necessary to go back and send a message on the importance of engaging on this particular issue and ensuring that there is the level of assurance required by members of this house that is sufficient for members of this they can haveve the confidence the backstop is not indefinite. it is not the indefinite nature that has been raising questions with this house and that is the fact we shall be addressing particularly. then the seventh of march, wide-ranging free-trade agreement founded on the issue

of the northern ireland border. the prime minister is still talking about the backstop as the only solution. this is a breach of the belfast , a breach of the act of union of 1801. since then she has met international customs experts. she met a nobel prize winner. she knows that existing techniques and customs aocedures can deliver seamless order. with her horrid backstop behind her take this back to the european union, with the offer of president assad, given -- president task, given these modern techniques? prime minister may: the offer

the european union put to the united kingdom was a cannot--- a canada-style treatment. they wanted to separate northern ireland away from the territory and in relation to the technical solutions that my right honorable friend says, .e will continue it's not just no physical infrastructure on the border. the question is the extent to which people on both sides of the border can continue to lead their lives as they do today with no increased barriers or encumbrances, and that is what i believe that this deal does on the border. she says in her statement

that this is the best deal and the only deal and it's time for all of us to face up to our responsibilities. prime ready to do that, minister. in this deal to a vote house. and if she is not prepared to do that, put it to a deal of the people. >> hear, hear. prime minister may: we are deferring the boat. [jeering] prime minister may: we will seek these further reassurances. and the right honorable gentleman has heard the answer times question several earlier this afternoon. tree ofthe date of the march be put off as well? -- the 29th of march be put off as well? prime minister may: this government is committed to exiting on the 29th of march. to be clear, she is seeking an exchange of letters

of reassurance with e.u., not to change the text of the withdrawal agreement? prime minister may: i said earlier nothing is off the table. what we're looking at is a range of ways we can find the reassurances. my task is to find sufficient reassurance to give confidence thatmbers of this house the backstop will not be indefinite. -- successful renegotiations require integrity and credibility. i would put to the prime minister that she has lost the trust and credibility of the house. but most importantly, she has lost the trust and credibility of the european union? prime minister may: that was very clear in my discussion with european leaders. >> the prime minister told the

mp's to be honest about the options we face. never admitted that we would end up as a rule take her. to thisat what led us crisis, and she only has herself to blame? i thinknister may: no, the honorable lady. we have been clear for what we believe is right for the european kingdom -- the united kingdom. this is a spectrum that the european union offered in the first place or the canada-style deal for great britain with northern ireland carved out. the political declaration does indeed trade -- including trade

agreement with no restrictions we should look at the border. the backstop was one of the number of great concerns. thathe is sure the house she will change the text of the agreement as recorded? i hope i canr may: give assurance to my right honorable friend. in discussions with colleagues, there seems to be a misunderstanding about the european court of justice. we will have the jurisdiction of the european court of justice. the european court of justice will not be the final arbiter of the withdrawal agreement. there has been a misunderstanding to the point that the arbitration panel dealing with disputes will be able to ask the european court

of justice for its opinion on its interpretation of eu law, but the dispute would be determined by the arbitration panel and not the european court of justice. >> [indiscernible] made my speech later today -- if i had made my speech later today, i would have told her my sacred duty as a member of parliament is to come here and look after the health and -- welfare and future prosperity of my constituents. sympathetic to the situation she finds herself them. i have lost that sympathy. she is actually being captured by the far right exit wing of the european research group that does not believe in research. of this captive nationalist conservative party.

prime minister may: no, the concern about the nature of the backstop is one that has been wide-ranginga group of members of parliament, including some on the opposition benches. >> i very much hope the sake of this country that the prime minister will prevail in the difficult negotiations that lie ahead, but i hope as she enters those negotiations she will be sustained by the widespread admiration -- not just on these benches, not just among conservatives, but the country as a whole -- for her dignity and perseverance. i think myter may: best answer to my right honorable friend is to say thank you. [laughter] i want to ask the prime

minister if she thinks that going back and changing the new show about the backstop is actually going to make -- the e about the minuta backstop is actually going to make a change. they are circling around her head, caring nothing about this country, only about their own position. this of backstop -- this backstop can kicking will make absolutely no difference to it.e people, and they know so what's the plan then? the issue ofr may: the potential indefinite -- what people are concerned about is the potential indefinite nature of the backstop. there's no intention that to be indefinite. concern thatuine is held by people across this

house, and i think it's entirely right the government addresses it. the prime minister writes about this need for young people and first-time voters. was she accepted they voted overwhelmingly to remain? they see that this deal is brexit, that this is as good as it gets? in this time, now that we know ,hat brexit actually looks like will people get the chance to actually vote on brexit realities, rather than brexit fantasies? my responseer may: is that i genuinely believe we should recognize the referendum in 2018 is the biggest exercise of democracy in our history and

we should appreciate many people who had gone out to vote, including many who had not voted before. i think if we go back and say, have another think they would question the value of that democracy in the value of the vote. thank you very much, mr. speaker. challenge --itical is this the political challenge is not as substantive as it was in the prime minister's strategy is to code or's further -- course provider that whenever party -- is it not true that they are insatiable? they will never be sacral -- they will never be satisfied. break this deadlock, i believe, requires different parliamentary map and a general election. prime minister may: i think the honorable lady here it i think what this country requires is to

continue to work to get a good deal over the line so we can brexit, protect jobs and livelihoods across this country. there are those in this country who will do nothing to help those looking to her -- looking to their future. >>me minister may: -- essential to any successful negotiator is the ability to walk away. the backstop take that from us. we areinister may: continuing to negotiate and the cabinet will be meeting to discuss those further. secondly, in any circumstance we aed to ensure there is not hard border between ireland and northern ireland. it is finding a way we can do that in a way that enables us to be free in a future relationship, which is the best

possible deal for this country and what we are striving to achieve. >> thank you, mr. speaker. about fees and democracy, but i think a lot of leave, whether they voted a remain, we'll look at this and see a public found in contempt. she has tried to postpone a vote on her own deal and postpone a vote on whether she should have a vote on that deal or not. people will be looking at this aghast. i have spoken to many leave votes in my constituency. i deeply respect why they voted leave, but many have changed their minds and they are looking at this and saying to me, they want to have a chance to vote on , not thet reality brexit fantasy and that is why we need a vote. prime minister may: he is wrong,

of course because we did provide legal advice to this house. that has been available to members of this house. he talks about this vote as if there is no vote in the future. of course we are deferring the vote what we have further discussions with the eu. has the prime minister not noticed that there are plenty of legal challenges around brexit, whether it is the fact that the referent of be legally banding, whether negotiations are off the table. only bessurances subject to legal challenges down the road if they are not legally binding? therefore assurances and help.rances will not prime minister may: i entirely

recognize the point she is making about legal positioning. obviously, we are at the on thisg of discussions matter. what i want to ensure is members like my friend are able to have confidence in those assurances when they come back from the european union. >> there is no one currently in who has been prime minister. does she appreciate that other s under pressure did not delay their legislation. margaret thatcher did not delay the poll tax. tony layer -- tony blair did not delay the it rapport decision. john major did not delay -- [jeering] , primee minister

minister -- he knows, she knows when the politics of this place gets broken, you either resign, go back to the people in a general election or referendum. no one gets to play for extra time before the game is ended. prime minister may: if i might say to the right honorable gentleman the premise of his question is wrong and i think of the looks back over the history of this country he will see that. they prime minister in a statement says the government will step up its work for a possible no deal outcome. she said the same last month. i am wondering if my right honorable friend ken -- can tell of one action that is now taking place that was not taking place in net -- last month? prime minister may: yes, we have stepped up our actions that are

taken. 140,000 businesses. we looked at the potential impact on medicines and devices. because the prime minister has come to the house to talk to day whenhonesty on the she has come to pull the deal that she said could not be pulled on the deal that she said could not be changed. any deal, any deal -- he can talk to the european union about the backstop all day, but any deal that respects those commitments will require us to europeano separate union rules, over which we will by didn'thave any say

of the fact of brexit. is it not time to be honest with the public instead of trying to square unscorable circles, or even worse, hide the facts of this fundamental choice until after we are out? >> hear, hear. prime minister may: we are committed to know hard border between ireland and northern ireland. we are committed to the agreement. we are committed to a deal that delivers on people's jobs and livelihoods. that is a deal we negotiated. the right honorable gentleman refers to how we can negotiate. what the government set out was a proposal and this was reflected in the declaration, but if you want to restrict, if you want to remove customs checks, it is necessary to make those obligations.

thatwe have proposed is parliament would have a lock on those votes. but there would be a consequence. open with people about the consequences of that decision. thank you, mr. speaker. the prime minister and has not confirmed when a meaningful vote will actually be held. today onthe statement the withdrawal agreement and the future framework has now been reached. been superseded because of the agreement being made today and therefore, the latest we could have a meaningful vote would be the 28th of march.

can i ask if this is what she intends and get assurances the delay she is talking about is a matter of days, not weeks a month -- and months? can i sayster may: that the 21st of january dates place last week and we are conscious of the requirements. i believe it is rights that we and try toecognizing find a way through those concerns. 100,000 awards have been shelled out in the last week.

of these that even she is not happy with. does she seek to sideline parliament once again while the ?ountry pays the price prime minister may: what we have done is recognize there is a specific aspect to the deal which has been raised in this house. .e will seek these assurances i continue to believe that overall this deal is the right .eal or the united kingdom >> she has been consistent that a bad deal would be worse than no deal and we have had time since june 2016 to do the preparations for leaving a wto

terms. consistentlyters refer to the eventuality of deal aswithout her deal chaos. armor preparations really so woeful? -- are preparations really so woeful? prime minister may: we are making this preparations. in relation to the impact of no deal, it's not just an issue of what we do. what happens on the border depends on others. and we cannot, we cannot determine what actions others will take. there will be consequences of leaving with no deal, particularly if that is going of ill willense between us and the european union with no decision that has helped to mitigate the impact of no deal. it's not just about what we do here.

it is what others do as well. the primeonly thing minister has heard is a few tweaks to the backstop will do the trick, isn't it clear that she's not listening hard enough? i recognizeer may: the issue that is being raised about the backstop is a genuine concern for many members of this house. that is why i will address it. treasury to mehe that this house has two points stability in a no deal scenario partly depends on a similar nondisruptive approach to planning. with the economic prosperity of one of its members closely engaged and 39 billion pounds at stake and the interests of all that means asses

much to us as we sell to them, why on earth would they not be planning on nondisruptive moved to the certainty of world trade organizations and the certainty of control over our economy and our ability to make future trade agreements? my rightister may: honorable friend asks why on earth would they? the fact is the eu has been making its own preparations. it has not been engaging with us on the aspect of determining or mitigating the effect of no deal on both sides of the border. i ask on behalf of the many constituents -- [indiscernible] on? the heck is going

she so concerned for self-preservation and not for party unity? how dare she postpone this vote? prime minister may: what is going on is this government was working to ensure this government will get over the lines a deal that is good for the whole of the united kingdom. thank you, mr. speaker. going back to what you said at the beginning of the statement, we had a very detailed business of the house motion pass.

indeed, what days and when the vote would be. ministers have sent out all over the country relating to that debate -- over 100 mps have spoken already. 142's big today. it may well be the prime minister is right. this house would like to put off the vote. but it would be this house that decides that. i do not think so far you have whether the question the procedure to be used is a motion up adjourning the house, in which this house will have a by some it will be anonymous with, say, tomorrow? prime minister may: i believe it is important for the government to respond to the comments that have come to her on the specific

issue and be responding on those comments if we want to ensure we get a deal over the line for the british people, and i believe that's the responsible approach .or this government to take >> the prime minister strategy seems to be fail again, feel better. is this not be strategy whenever she decides to bring it back to this house. which ever day. it will be voted down. the will of the people cannot be undermined by a vote of the. -- about of the people. prime minister may: the right honorable lady has heard my response to a question of another vote and can i gently oppositioners of the that everyone stood on a

the thent to deliver referendum. >> thank you, mr. speaker. the problem with the deal goes far beyond the backstop. may i ask my right honorable friend what she intends to do with the fact that every region of the country will be left for her and we will have less say hugethe rules governing swathes of our economy than we have at the moment? prime minister may: what the government economic analysis thes is the deal, none of proposals -- this deal does not make is poorer than we are today. --t it does -- what it does what the economic analysis shows is if you want a referendum, the best way to do that -- >> we will leave the british house of comments to go live to

the u.s. house of representatives. the speaker pro tempore: the house will be in order. the the chair lays before the house a communication from the speaker. the clerk: the speaker's rooms, washington, d.c. december 10, 2018. i hereby appoint the honorable john abney culberson to act as speaker pro tempore on this day. signed paul d. ryan, speaker of the house of representatives. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the order of the house of january 8, 2018, the chair will now recognize members from lists submitted by the majority and minority leaders for morning hour debate. the chair will alternate recognition between the parties. all time shall be equally allocated between the parties and in no event shall debate continue beyond 1:50 p.m. each member other than the majority and minority leaders and minority whip shall be limited to five minutes. the chair