December 2020
Following our departure from the EU, the Government has been in ongoing trade negotiations with the EU. Negotiations continued throughout the peak of the coronavirus outbreak and have now intensified. The Government is seeking to negotiate a friendly relationship with the EU which reflects our status as an independent sovereign state and is based on free trade.
Many of my constituents have been in touch with me over the last couple of months to ask: why are negotiations still ongoing when Government promised an oven ready deal? Owing to EU rules, we could not begin any trade negotiations until we left the EU in January. Following the General Election, the Government passed the Withdrawal Agreement, our oven ready deal, and we left the EU. The Government then began trade negotiations.
As we approach the end of the transition period, 31st December 2020, we have reached the pivotal point in negotiations.
Progress has been achieved in many areas. Yesterday, the EU-UK Joint Committee reached an agreement over the border checks in Northern Ireland. As a result, we no longer require this legal safety net provided through Clauses 44, 45, 47 of the UK Internal Markets Bill and these have now been removed. This vital agreement with the EU means businesses across the country can continue to trade freely and seamlessly across our four home nations, as they have done for hundreds of years. We can also continue to deliver on our commitment to maintain peace, stability and prosperity on the island of Ireland.
There are still areas of disagreement between the UK and the EU. The conditions for finalising an agreement are not there yet as significant differences remain on three critical issues: level playing field, governance and fisheries. British negotiators and the Government are working around the clock to work through these areas so we can leave the transition period with a trade deal.
I understand that the prolonged Brexit negotiations have been wearing and frustrating for everyone. I can assure you that I will continue to follow the talks over the coming days very closely.
January 2020:
At 23:00 on 31 January 2020 the United Kingdom has stopped being a member of the European Union.
Throughout Brexit negotiations and debates I have campaigned for a sensible and appropriate departure from the EU. We must always keep a good relationship with our European friends and neighbours, especially in the months to come.
I will support The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, in the following months of communication with the EU.
October 2019:
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has managed to agree a new Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration with the European Union. I have argued for the past three years that it is vitally important that when we leave the EU that we make sensible arrangements with our neighbours.
The new deal addresses some of the concerns that were raised by Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement which prevented it getting the support of Parliament.
This deal ensures there will not be a backstop or a hard border in Northern Ireland. This will keep Northern Ireland as part of the UK customs territory. Northern Ireland will still have access to the Single Market, but also be part of UK trade deals negotiated around the world.
Britain will no longer be bound by EU rules. We can change our own laws in a huge number of areas from product standards to fishing rules to farming subsidies. We can also strike our own trade deals with the whole of the UK able to participate in the deal. The European Court will no longer have supremacy in Britain; it will be our courts that apply our laws.
I voted in support of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill during first and second reading of the Bill in the House of Commons. I am a leader of the group MPs for a Deal and I strongly believe the only way we can achieve Brexit while avoiding a No Deal exit is to vote for a Deal.
Following the successful second reading of the Bill, the Government lost the programme motion for the committee stages of the Bill. As a result, the Bill has now been paused and the Government is now pushing for a General Election on the 12th of December. I very much hope the Bill will return to the Commons soon.
September 2019:
Last week I met the Prime Minister and he assured me that he was working hard for a Deal and expects to bring that back to Parliament when we return in mid-October. Today, with colleagues from across the political divide I launched “MPs for a Deal”, which is exactly that; we wish the Prime Minister well in his negotiations with the EU, and very much hope to get a Parliamentary majority for the Deal he brings back. I think the vast majority of us want a sensible compromise and an orderly exit.
“MPs for a Deal” seeks a middle ground between the two extremes of ‘remain’ and ‘leave’. 92% of the Conservative party did support the previous deal and it’s important to get Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the independents on board to pass the next one. I firmly believe that we must respect the result of the referendum And leave without delay and WITH a deal.
Victoria Prentis MP - 11 September 2019
With eight weeks to go, calm heads are needed. I hope that we can leave the EU on 31 October and do so with a deal – or set of deals – that protects national security and people’s jobs. Rebelling against the Government at this late stage won’t help to achieve that, and I’m backing Boris in the hope that he can secure a deal.
I have always been concerned about playing around with our constitution. Had parliament not insisted on a “meaningful” vote, we would have left the EU six months ago, WITH a deal. Backbench MPs meddling with our constitution has in fact left us in a weaker position. It’s so important that we deliver Brexit, and get on with improving our schools and hospitals as Boris has said he will.
I hope that all MPs – including the opposition– will examine their consciences as they return from the Summer break; the only way to get a deal is to vote for one. Let’s hope we get one more chance to do so and that this time MPs from across the House will vote for a deal.
Victoria Prentis MP - 2 September 2019
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Update: June 2019
I am sorry we have reached the situation where Theresa May has been forced to step down because of Parliamentary deadlock over Brexit. I’m sure it was the right decision. I am very grateful for the Prime Minister’s dedication and determination throughout the Brexit negotiations. It was a thankless task.
We are fortunate to have a good slate of candidates, all committed to delivering Brexit. It is important that the next leader is committed to respecting the 2016 referendum. They all have different strengths and weaknesses, and I look forward to hearing about their plans during the leadership hustings next month. There is a strong argument for skipping a generation of MPs to find the next leader, who can bring new life to the Conservative party.
We need a leader with a strong track record of negotiation and diplomacy. Therefore, I have chosen to back Rory Stewart as the next leader of the Conservative Party. Previously he has served in the prestigious Black Watch, as the British representative to Montenegro, as Deputy-Governor in two regions in Iraq following the 2003 intervention, as an advisor to President Obama and as Prisons Minister. He has a fierce intellect and proven diplomatic and strategic skills.
Rory is right that a no deal Brexit (by which I mean no deals with the EU before or soon after Brexit) would be incredibly damaging for this country’s small and mid-sized business. There are many businesses in North Oxfordshire that are part of Europe-wide supply chains. We need to make sustainable arrangements with our former EU partners. I don’t mind if this is via one Brexit deal or a series of agreements, but we cannot simply turn our back on Europe, who remain our closest neighbours.
While I appreciate there will be a range of views, I believe Rory has the relevant skills to lead the United Kingdom out of the EU and unify the country.
Leadership hustings will take place across the Country for Conservative Party members. There will also be televised hustings with candidates. Do get in touch if you have a particular view about the leadership contest.
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- Victoria Prentis MP's Indicative Votes on Alternative Brexit Options - 28 March 2019
Unfortunately Hansard made a mistake in transposing my votes last night. I have asked for the record to be corrected. I can confirm my votes were as follows:
Votes Against
Amendment B (No Deal)
Amendment L (Revoke Article 50)
Amendment K (Labour Plan)
Amendment M (Confirmatory public vote)
Amendment O (Contingent preferential arrangements)
Votes For
Amendment J (Customs Union)
Abstained
Amendment H (EFTA)
Amendment D (Common Market 2.0)
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- Brexit Update – 15 March 2019
I am genuinely sorry that we are in this mess.
Since the referendum, I have been consistent in my view that we really must work together to sort out a sensible relationship with the EU following our departure. The Withdrawal Agreement the Prime Minister brought back to the Commons at the beginning of the week is the product of over two years of negotiation. It is not perfect, but it is a good starting point which is exactly why I supported it on Tuesday evening. I was extremely disappointed that many of my colleagues did not share that view.
As the Withdrawal Agreement didn’t pass, we were promised a free vote on the option of taking no deal off the table on Wednesday evening. Caroline Spelman MP had tabled an amendment to this effect which she indicated during the course of the day’s debate that she would withdraw because she felt more comfortable with the wording of the main Government motion. However, Yvette Cooper MP – who had also signed the Spelman amendment – moved it to a vote.
The amendment passed by a very slim margin which meant that the main motion then became the only opportunity to prevent no deal on the 29 March. Just as I have been consistent in my support for leaving the EU with a good deal, I have also made it very clear that a no deal scenario would be extremely disruptive. This has always been the Government’s preferred position. Parliamentary procedure is not always easy to follow but I hope this explains why I abstained.
Given Wednesday’s result, we then spent yesterday debating the possibility of delaying our departure from the EU. When it came to the vote, I supported an extension as it has become increasingly clear to me that, with just a fortnight until 29 March, we need more time to get a deal through and make the necessary arrangements to ensure a smooth and clean departure. I really hope we can leave as soon as possible.
We now find ourselves in a position where the Prime Minister will be going to the EU to request a delay. It is far from ideal that the uncertainty continues. I know that the situation is causing worry and enormous difficulties for many of my constituents.
Truthfully, I think we need to take a step back. We all have our own idea of what our future relationship with the EU might look like; it would be lovely if we could all get what we wanted but that simply isn’t realistic. Some of my colleagues need to wake up to reality. Passing a Withdrawal Agreement will only be the beginning of a long conversation, but it would be such a relief to get on with things.
It has not been an easy week.
Victoria
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- Brexit Update – 15 January 2019
I am very disappointed with the result of tonight’s vote. It was a victory for no-one; we have moved no further forward and the deadlock continues.
I appreciate the strength of feeling on Brexit. Over the past weeks and months, I have received correspondence from hundreds of constituents on both sides of the debate. My own view has been the same throughout. We had a people’s vote in 2016, where everyone had the opportunity to vote in accordance with their wishes. There is now an urgent need to make progress.
I firmly believe we need to stop looking backwards and instead focus on what really matters to the people: their jobs, security and our constitution. As 29 March fast approaches, now is the time to come together and find the best way forward.
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- On Thursday 10 January 2019, Victoria spoke in the European Withdrawal Act debate
For the full speech, please watch the video at the top of the page or find a full transcript below, taken from Hansard:
Victoria Prentis (Banbury) (Con): I was brought up to believe strongly that the EU was a force for peace and prosperity. My maternal grandmother, whose parents had been badly affected in two world wars, is still a great believer in the European Union. My father has spent his career embedding British values in European projects. I am an Erasmus scholar, and I used to work for the Christian Democratic Union of Germany. I am also a linguist of sorts, although my daughter did say the other day, “Mummy, you think you speak Italian. Sadly, nobody else agrees.” I cut my political teeth in the events leading up to 1989, when students from around the EU acted together to overcome communism, which was really exciting for an 18-year-old.
So, I was a remainer, but stronger by far than my respect for the EU is my love for this nation, for our institutions, for our hard work, for the rule of law, and for the common law, in which I have spent my whole career working. I believe in our flexible—if I can cheekily say that to you, Mr Speaker—but stable constitution, and in a robust democracy that has endured for centuries, and that is why I cannot support a second referendum.
I wonder whether my European Research Group colleagues have ever read to the end of the fabulous leaflet that was delivered to all households before the 2016 referendum. Colleagues might remember it, but I bet my ERG colleagues never got to the page near the back, which reads:
“This is your decision. The Government will implement what you decide.” The back page says, in bold, that “The EU referendum is a once in a generation decision.” We must do this.
Colleagues will realise that this is a considerable compromise—to use the word of the moment—for me. It is one that I will make because I respect the decision of my constituents and of others across the nation who voted to leave, but I say to colleagues—particularly fellow Conservative Members—who propose to vote against the withdrawal agreement that they must compromise, too. I politely and respectfully say to Opposition Members, respecting much of what the hon. Member for Penistone and Stocksbridge (Angela Smith) just said, that it is ridiculous to think that they could negotiate a better deal from where we are now.
The Prime Minister, for whom I have considerable respect, and thousands of civil servants, for whom I also have considerable respect, have spent two and a half years working hard to get this agreement. It has tariffs at zero. It does quite a lot—not everything we want, but quite a lot—for citizens’ rights. There is clearly a lot more work to do, but it is a fair start, and it is where we are at this minute. I say to Conservative Members that there is a real risk that those who want a harder Brexit will end up with no Brexit at all. As a democrat, I do not believe that that would be the right outcome—although let me say that if there is a second referendum, I will campaign with every fibre of my being. Let us hope that rabbits can be pulled out of the hat in the next week.
Today’s debate has been completely different from the debate before Christmas, during which I set out sensibly the views of the people and businesses in my constituency. I love the EU, and I love the UK more than the EU, but I love Banbury much more than both. I ask all Members, setting aside both ideology and pride for a minute, if they can, to think about their constituents and the jobs that will be at risk if we head for a no-deal Brexit, which would be a complete disaster. Could we please unite around this deal, which is frankly the only one on the table? Together—I agreed with some of what the hon. Member for Penistone and Stocksbridge said about working together—we could then start setting out a positive vision for a global Britain. Let us vote for this deal and move on.
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- Brexit Update: 21 December 2018
At present, the situation is extremely fluid. There is a lot changing on a daily basis, which has made responding to the over 500 emails I have received on this subject in recent days rather more difficult.
Truthfully, my own view has not changed. I still think it is preferable for us to leave the EU in March with a deal than without one. Many of the large employers in our area have made the same point to me, as have those whose immigration status is still unclear. I do think that the deal on the table is fair. There has been give and take on both sides. Preparing for a no-deal scenario as a contingency does seem necessary, but I really hope it is not the outcome.
I accept that I cannot predict what will happen. Hopefully the Christmas break will give us all the opportunity to pause and consider our next steps as 29 March fast approaches.
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- On Wednesday 5 December 2018, Victoria Prentis MP spoke in the second allotted day of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act debate.
Please see below for a full transcript of Victoria’s speech, taken from Hansard.
Victoria Prentis (Banbury) (Con): It is an honour to follow the hon. Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr (Jonathan Edwards), though I do not agree with all his ideas, and my hon. Friend the Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (John Lamont), who made a characteristically thoughtful speech.
Many ideas have been put forward today, but, as lawyers are fond of saying, we are where we are. I urge hon. Members putting forward ideas—650 different ideas, possibly, if you can fit everyone into this enormous debate, Mr Speaker—to look down the corridor, where there is another debate going on that is possibly even more thoughtful and perhaps a little less political than the one in this Chamber. I was made to stop and think when I read the speech of the Archbishop of Canterbury earlier today. I encourage all Members to have a little look at what is going on down the corridor.
In the 2016 referendum, the result in the Banbury constituency was the closest in the country. By 500, we voted to leave. I have seen no evidence, talking to people or in my postbag, that significant numbers on either side have changed their minds, though there have been a few. It is really important, given that we are where we are, that we now be sensible and practical. This is a fair deal—in fact, it is growing on me more and more as I read it and listen to debates such as this. There are two main reasons why I think that.
We have in the deal the beginnings of certainty on the status of EU nationals and an inkling of where our immigration policy is going. We know a fair bit about immigration in north Oxfordshire. Poles make up 10% of the population of Banbury. We also have another significant minority in the Kashmiris, who have been with us, in some cases, for four generations. The Poles and Romanians living locally are well integrated, and we value their contribution to or workforce and all aspects of public life.
I am concerned that we put flesh on the bones of the withdrawal agreement, and I look forward to engaging in detail with the White Paper so that my constituents might get practical solutions to problems such as, “Will granny be able to join me when she needs care in her old age?” The deal is going in the right direction, which is one reason why I am inclined to vote for it, but I am also persuaded by the almost frictionless trade ideas set out in it. Of course, the future agreement needs more work, but we are going in the right direction.
In Banbury, we are lucky to have almost full employment. We have a wide selection of middle-sized family manufacturing firms—in the food and automotive industries, for example—that are a part of the critical just-in-time European-wide system. When I was hoping to speak in this debate, I thought I would ask my local business leaders what they would like me to say. I asked a wide selection, but I have chosen to read out the comments of two in particular. One is a great local entrepreneur. He was a Brexiteer, which is unusual among my local business leaders, and he now runs a company that is a leading distributor of health and beauty and household brands. He said:
“The deal on the table sorts several of the big Brexit issues—immigration being one. It also protects trade. Smooth trade through ports and ferry terminals is vital to the UK. So much of everything we eat and use comes from Europe. Likewise our exports are crucial to many UK businesses—especially automotive.
My view is we should sign it. I have not seen any credible alternative proposals from others...The Irish situation was always going to be difficult. It should not become a deal breaker. No deal would be a disaster.”
Let me also quote what was said by a representative of a company that manufactures high-end tools. This lady was a passionate remainer, and I am particularly fond of both her and her business—as, indeed, was my predecessor. The company is a great local employer. It is notable that those who visit its factory meet people who have worked there for 35 years, and successive generations of whose families have worked there. She said:
“The deal that is now on the table I believe is the best we could get. It isn’t as good as staying in for obvious reasons—you don’t get a better deal being out of the club than you get by being in it. But, it is a deal that an export company like ours can work with and while trade with the EU will cease to be frictionless we will have until 2021 to get things in place to deal with that. If I do my best to be positive about the situation, there may also be benefits for trade outside the EU post transition—although I sincerely hope not at the cost of lower standards for products, employee protection, the environment or animal welfare.”
I could not have put it better myself.
It could be said that Banbury was the most divided constituency on 23 June 2016, but I have seen plenty of evidence locally that we are prepared to come together, work together, and have a bright future with the deal that is on the table.
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I am extremely grateful to all those who have taken the time to contact me about Brexit in recent weeks. Over 600 people have sent me emails, letters or campaign postcards as negotiations have progressed. Many have contacted me more than once or twice week to share their view on developments. It is right that everyone should have the opportunity to have their say on an issue that will shape the future of our country and which affects us all. I am only sorry that, on some occasions, because of the sheer volume of correspondence it has taken me a little longer to reply than usual.
I think it is important to remember that there are a very wide range of views on Brexit. To get an idea, I want to share just a few from constituents who have written to me:
“I would encourage you to support the Prime Minister in both her job and her proposed deal, and to be an advocate for the message that Brexit was always, by necessity, going to be a compromise for us all.”
“The whole Brexit campaign has been a shameful farce. A People's Vote is the only honourable way to deal with the present mess and I would very much doubt that the majority of the country would still want to vote Leave.”
“I voted Remain in 2016 but I fully respect the result of the referendum. I just wanted the Government to get on and deliver a sensible Brexit. I was hopeful that Theresa May’s (PM at time of writing) attempts to get a good deal for Britain would be successful. Now we know what the deal looks like I simply can’t believe that this deal is good for our country. We are giving up our role as a leader in Europe whilst many of the benefits promised by the Leave campaign are not going to happen.”
“I am appalled and despairing of this withdrawal deal. It is not what I voted for…I am sick and tired of remainders [sic] agitating for another referendum, this would be the wrong kind of democracy.”
“As one of your constituents I am emailing to ask you to not vote down the current Brexit deal. As someone who wishes we were remaining in the EU, this deal is far from what I have been hoping for, but it is better than a no deal brexit.”
“You all need to get a grip and deliver what you were told to do by the electorate by the biggest turnout in a century, a lot more support than any of you in Parliament got, or, are ever likely to get.”
“With the Withdrawal Agreement, we finally have an idea of what life outside the European Union would be like. No such document was presented to the public before the referendum. As such…we cannot use the result of the referendum as consent for this plan.”
“I would urge all your MPs not to pursue a change of leadership at this crucial time. I am not a natural Conservative voter, but do feel Mrs May has worked tirelessly for the best solution that follows as closely as is possible the wishes of the majority in the referendum. To change leadership at this time will only do harm both to the country as a whole, and especially to the continuity of the crucial Brexit negotiations.”
“In my opinion it was always going to be tough as all 17.2m who voted Leave had their own vision of perfect Brexit and it was never going to be possible to meet all expectations. The PM seems to be an exemplary extremely hard working and capable person with conscience that others in the Conservative party should admire and not criticise.”
“I never thought leaving the EU was a good idea, however I have studied the prime minister’s deal and believe it is something I could live with. I don’t think it is as good as our current arrangements, but it is sensible and protects business and peace in Northern Ireland. I would urge you to support if you believe we have to leave the EU. Personally I would rather see a referendum so that the public can decide between the deal or remaining.”
“The people voted and democracy delivered a result. Since article 50 was triggered we found our future in the hands of politicians both in Westminster and Brussels carrying out an impossible task of negotiating an exit which keeps all parties happy.”
“I know a lot of people in our area voted Leave in 2016 but we are now heading for a Brexit that only the deranged could have voted for. It has already and will continue to make us far poorer and damage the prospects of our industries and our young people, who will be denied the freedom to travel and work across 28 countries.”
“Given the current situation (which is a proposal which pleases no-one) and the fact that most of what the leave campaign promised prior to the initial referendum having since been proven to be incorrect. I feel the only democratic way out of the mess is a second referendum.”
“I can't believe that now we're on the precipice of "it" that our Government is still proceeding despite every single one of the possible benefits thrown about carelessly by leave having been well and truly exposed as outright lies.”
“PLEASE PLEASE SUPPORT A PEOPLES VOTE. The repeated references to the results of the previous referendum being a majority is a falsehood - a huge swaths of voters at that time were hoodwinked into voting for a fantasy”
“What a lady! The pressure she has had to take is being recognised in the Country and in true British fashion we are happy to compromise on withdrawal from the EU. I voted leave but why risk everything for the unknown?”
“I'm sure that if [the Prime Minister] ultimately loses the vote, there will be many that join the cry for a second referendum. As a barrister, I'm sure that you are well aware of the danger of asking a question in court to which you do not know the answer. There are many pitfalls in the vote: what happens if the turnout drops from 75% to 60% because the weather is bad, or people decide there's no point because the establishment won't listen to them anyway, and Remain wins by 2% but with a numerical vote less than either their previous vote or that of the original Brexit vote? If many voters struggled with a binary decision previously, how much more easily will it be if they'd given the choice between 2 or more options? And of course, what happens if voters are so 'stupid and bigoted' to vote again for Brexit against the advice of their 'betters'? Now what do our MPs do?”
It is clear that opinions differ. We can all unite in our real desire to get the best for our country. We had a democratic vote on our future relationship with the European Union in 2016 and the Government was always very clear that it would implement the result. Article 50 was also triggered in 2017 following a vote in the House which was supported by 494 to 122 votes.
Preparations for our departure have been ongoing since the referendum. Having been a civil servant before I was elected, I know my former colleagues have been working to ensure the smoothest possible exit. The Prime Minister has worked as hard as anyone to bring an agreement to the table. Her resilience and tenacity are extremely impressive. I have spent a lot of time since the draft deal was published exploring the document in detail, and discussing the content with colleagues. It has always been clear to me that a deal is critical to our departure – a view reiterated by many of the businesses in our area – and that an element of compromise would be necessary.
There has been some give and take, on both sides. In the lead up to the 2016 referendum, I spent a lot of time campaigning. Those who voted leave told me that regaining control of our borders and having the freedom to enact our own laws was extremely important to them, while those who voted remain – as I did – were motivated mainly by a desire to protect our economy and jobs. Reconciling a deeply divided electorate was never going to be easy, particularly when everyone has their own idea of what Brexit will look like. My own view is that the deal the Prime Minister has negotiated achieves a fair outcome.
I appreciate that some people do not feel it goes far enough, while others see this as the time to stop the process altogether. As I hope the excerpts I have quoted from my inbox demonstrate, I have no doubt about the strength of feeling on all sides of the debate. Some of the behaviour of my colleagues here at Westminster in recent days has been self-indulgent. With less than five months until we leave the EU, now is not the time for a leadership contest or another referendum – particularly when there is little agreement about what the question in a second referendum would be.
Just as I cannot predict what will happen after we leave, I am not sure how the next few weeks will also play out at Westminster. We know that we will have to vote on the deal sometime in December. A Political Declaration – which will set out the broad terms of our future relationship with the EU – must also be negotiated in the short term. Divorce is never easy, but I think we really must focus on leaving with a deal.
Victoria Prentis MP
22 November 2018
