Brexit latest: Gisela Stuart shuts down Lord Falconer with fiery slap down
Gisela Stuart discussed the significance of the Brexit report published on Friday as one the guests on the panel of BBC’s Westminster Hour. When the Labour peer claimed the report was not ambiguous and that ‘full alignment’ meant the UK is staying in the single market and the customs union, Ms Stuart fired back saying he was not the only lawyer in the room.
SKY•BBC Labour Brexiteer Gisela Stuart fires back at Lord Falconer on latest Brexit report
She said: “You have three lawyers here. “Michel Barnier himself, when it was suggested to him that this agreement is nothing but us staying in the single market and the customs union in relation to Northern Ireland, he said ‘if that’s your interpretation that you have misunderstood our position’.” Turning to Lord Falconer she said: “You have extrapolated from the statement. Full alignment will only happen if there is no agreement.”
Lord Falconer then asked her what she thought was the agreement reached in Brussels, provoking the Labour Brexiteer. Mr Falconer asked “What’s your agreement where there is no border? “The only solution to that is that the rules are the same for the North and the South, what’s the alternative to that? You tell us now, we are on the edge of our seats.” She replied saying that the agreement was to move on to a decision on the common travel areas and that “the alignment to the rules of the internal market between north and south are going to be in the next trade agreement.”
Brexit deal agreement in full: Read the report published Fri, December 8, 2017 Read the full 7,000-word agreement on the Brexit deal Play slideshow EPA 1 of 17 Here is the 15 page Brexit deal in full