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.