text_body: --- DIVISION TITLE ---
  
  European Union (Withdrawal) Act - Withdrawal Agreement - Right for the UK to Unilaterally Terminate the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland
  
  --- MOTION EFFECT ---
  
  @ MP voted aye to amend the agreement with the European Union on the United Kindom's withdrawal from the union to allow the United Kingdom to unilaterially terminate the arrangements designed to both prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland and retain the United Kingdom's integrity. 
  
  @ MP voted no not to amend the agreement with the European Union on the United Kindom's withdrawal from the union to allow the United Kingdom to unilaterially terminate the arrangements designed to both prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland and retain the United Kingdom's integrity. 
  
  
  The majority of MPs voted not to amend the agreement with the European Union on the United Kindom's withdrawal from the union to allow the United Kingdom to unilaterially terminate the arrangements, including a single customs territory, designed to both prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland and retain the United Kingdom's integrity. 
  
  The [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/759019/25_November_Agreement_on_the_withdrawal_of_the_United_Kingdom_of_Great_Britain_and_Northern_Ireland_from_the_European_Union_and_the_European_Atomic_Energy_Community.pdf withdrawal agremment] contained a "protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland". The protocol sought to prevent a hard-border on the island of Ireland and provides for a "single customs territory" encompassing the United Kingdom and the European Union, covering therefore both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Article 7 of the protocol provides for protections for the United Kingdom's internal market and begins by stating:
  
  :Nothing in this Protocol shall prevent the United Kingdom from ensuring unfettered market access for goods moving from Northern Ireland to the rest of the United Kingdom's internal market. 
  
  The provisions intended to preserve the economic and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom, while preventing a hard border on the island of Ireland are known as the "backstop".[1]
  
  
  MPs were debating a motion stating:
  
  :That this House approves for the purposes of [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2018/16/section/13/enacted section 13(1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018], the [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/withdrawal-agreement-and-political-declaration negotiated withdrawal agreement] laid before the House on Monday 26 November 2018 with the title âAgreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Communityâ and the [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/759021/25_November_Political_Declaration_setting_out_the_framework_for_the_future_relationship_between_the_European_Union_and_the_United_Kingdom__.pdf framework for the future relationship] laid before the House on Monday 26 November 2018 with the title â[Political Declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdomâ.
  
  
  
  The amendment rejected in this vote was:
  
  :Amendment (f): at end, add
  
  âsubject to changes being made in the Withdrawal Agreement and in the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol so that the UK has the right to terminate the Protocol without having to secure the agreement of the EU.â
  
  * [1] [https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/759020/14_November_Explainer_for_the_agreement_on_the_withdrawal_of_the_United_Kingdom_of_Great_Britain_and_Northern_Ireland_from_the_European_Union.pdf Paragraph 155, Explainer for the agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union, UK Government, 14 November 2018]
  
  --- COMMENTS AND NOTES ---
  
  (put thoughts and notes for other researchers here)
  