division_name: European Union (Withdrawal) Bill &#8212; Repeal of the European Communities Act 1972
motion: <p class="indent" pid="b733.6/8" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;The political cost to my Front-Bench colleagues of going against a sifting committee recommendation would be significant. The committee will have to give a reason why it is in disagreement, the Minister will be summoned to explain his or her Department&#8217;s position, and it will be flagged up on the Order Paper if a particular SI has not been agreed between the sifting committee and the Government. That will result in a significant political cost&#8221;.&#8212;[Official Report, <phrase class="date" code="2018-12-12">12 December</phrase> 2017; Vol. 633, c. 266.]</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="b737.4/3" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;would weaken the position of Britain&#8217;s negotiators.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="b739.7/3" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;Parliament&#8217;s role is to scrutinise legislation and policy; 650 MPs, still less 800 peers, cannot themselves negotiate.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="b746.2/2" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;must follow any direction in relation to the negotiations&#8230;approved by a resolution of the House of Commons, and&#8230;subject to&#8230;a motion in the House of Lords.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="b760.2/2" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;Her Majesty&#8217;s Government may implement a withdrawal agreement only if Parliament has approved the withdrawal agreement and any transitional measures&#8230;Her Majesty&#8217;s Government must follow any direction in relation to the negotiations under Article 50&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="b766.4/2" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;Within seven days of a statement under subsection (4) being laid, a Minister of the Crown must move a motion in the House of Commons to seek approval of the Government&#8217;s approach.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="b769.5/8" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;The House is made up of 651 robust individuals whose position gives them a powerful say in what the Executive can and cannot do. The powers of the House are sovereign and they have the ability to upset the best-laid plans of Ministers and of Government, which no Minister ever forgets, and nor should any Back Bencher&#8221;.</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="b774.0/2" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;If no political agreement has been reached&#8221;,</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="b774.0/4" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;a resolution in the House of Commons&#8221;.</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="b775.2/2" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;must follow any direction in relation to the negotiations under Article 50(2)&#8230;which has been&#8212;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="b775.2/3" pwmotiontext="yes">approved by a resolution of the House of Commons&#8221;.</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="b775.5/2" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;In security terms, a failure to reach agreement would mean our cooperation in the fight against crime and terrorism would be weakened.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="b778.5/3" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;This is your decision. The Government will implement what you decide.&#8221;</p>
  
  <p class="indent" pid="b781.0/3" pwmotiontext="yes">&#8220;in a parliamentary system of government, parliamentarians, and in particular Members of the House of Commons, have a right and a duty to determine what is meant by &#8216;a meaningful vote&#8217;.&#8221;&#8212;[Official Report, House of Lords, <phrase class="date" code="2018-04-30">30 April</phrase> 2018; Vol. 790, c. 1847.]</p>
  
  <p class="italic" pid="b785.10/4" pwmotiontext="yes">The House divided:</p>
  
  <p pid="b785.10/5" pwmotiontext="yes">Ayes 324, Noes 302.</p>