argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): We have negotiated a deal that works for everyone. I say to the hon. Lady simply this: in June 2016, a vote was held and people voted to leave the European Union. On 29 March 2019, the date set for us to leave the EU, it will be nearly three years since that vote. I think people want us to get on with leaving the EU, and that is what we will do.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Rachel Helen Maclean (Conservative, Centre-right): Does the Prime Minister realise that when Jean-Claude Juncker called her "nebulous" he fundamentally underestimated the attitude of the British people, who completely disagree with that sentiment? That is what I found in my constituency this weekend, where people praised the Prime Minister’s determination to get a deal that works for my constituency. Can she display that similar determination in ruling out a second referendum, which would be so insulting to my constituents and suggest that they do not know what they voted for the first time round?
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend makes a very important point. Many people who voted to leave in the referendum in 2016 would say exactly that: they knew what they were voting for; they voted for what they believed was right for this country; and they want a Government who deliver that.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: Macroeconomics
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): I have set out when the meaningful vote will take place. The hon. Gentleman again referenced people being poorer under this deal than they are today. They are not going to be poorer under this deal than they are today. The economic analysis is very clear about this, and it is clear that the best deal—the best approach that delivers on the referendum and protects jobs and the economy—is the deal.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
James Spencer Cleverly (Conservative, Centre-right): A number of Opposition Members and, indeed, some Government Members have been talking about people who have changed their minds and how important it is that we respect people’s opportunity to change their minds. Does the Prime Minister agree that although there is no evidence to show that a meaningful number of people have changed their mind in respect of the referendum result, it is clear that a number of Opposition Members have changed their minds, because previously they said they would respect the outcome of the referendum and they clearly now no longer wish to do so? If they want to stop Brexit, they should be honest with this House and their constituents and just say so.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: Foreign Trade
Crispin Jeremy Rupert Blunt (Conservative, Centre-right): The certainty of World Trade Organisation terms from 29 March, without even including the opportunity for tariff-free trade under article 24 of the general agreement on tariffs and trade and the immediate opportunity to negotiate and conclude free trade agreements with the EU and the rest of the world, hardly sounds like an outcome to be avoided at all costs, and certainly not like a disaster. The extent of any disruption from a move to WTO terms depends on the policies of our European Union partners. If it becomes clear on Wednesday that their preparations appear to make transition more difficult, not easier, will the Prime Minister make sure that of the £39 billion that we would otherwise pay to the EU, the first charge is for British businesses affected by their policies? Will she show the first flash of steel by making it clear that she will at least consider that the £1.2 billion of sunk costs in the Galileo project might also come into consideration?
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): The work on the financial settlement that led to the £34 billion to £39 billion—significantly less than the £100 billion that was being talked about at European Union level at one stage—did of course take into account all the aspects of the contributions that the United Kingdom has made into the European Union over the number of years of our membership. As a result of the tough negotiations that the UK undertook, we have seen a significantly smaller sum of money than the one that the European Union initially thought of.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): When looking at the negotiations for this deal, we wanted to ensure that we could protect jobs and that we would protect our prosperity for the future, and that is exactly what we have done. I repeat what I have said to other hon. Members: it is not possible simply to wish away no deal without having an alternative to no deal. That means either having a deal or not having Brexit at all. I believe that delivering on Brexit is what we should be doing and what this House should be agreeing.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Philip Andrew Davies (Conservative, Centre-right): I urge the Government to get off their knees in these negotiations. Will the Prime Minister remind the EU, this House, and perhaps even the Cabinet that we are the United Kingdom, and that we are perfectly capable of standing alone? We are not some kind of small, third-world backwater that is dependent on the benevolence of the European Union. The way that the EU has treated the Prime Minister in these negotiations is embarrassing for her and humiliating for the United Kingdom. If she were to go along to the EU now and tell it, in the face of its intransigence, to get stuffed, the huge proportion of the British people would be absolutely right behind her. In this great battle between Parliament and the people, it is critical that the Prime Minister is on the side of the people.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): The former Prime Minister is not giving advice. The last time I spoke to him was when we agreed the withdrawal agreement. It was when I spoke to two former Prime Ministers, as a matter of courtesy, to inform them what had been negotiated with the European Union.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Robert Henry Halfon (Conservative, Centre-right): I welcome the guarantees that the Prime Minister has given today about having no second referendum of any kind. I also welcome her standing up to Mr Juncker. May I just say in plain words that she should go to the European Union and say, "You can stick the £39 billion of taxpayers’ money where the sun don’t shine unless we get legal movement on the backstop."? She would not be called nebulous then; she would be called the iron lady.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): As I have said to other Members of this House, it is important for us to remember that, whatever the circumstances of our leaving the European Union, there would be some financial obligations for us. As a country that does meet its legal obligations, it is important for us to continue to do so.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Richard Michael John Ogilvie Graham (Conservative, Centre-right): I very much hope that the Prime Minister can agree with the EU a legally binding annex to the withdrawal agreement on any intended use of the backstop as that could unite many Members of this House. Given that they too, like us, were elected on a manifesto of respecting the referendum result, should not any further reassurances be the moment for Labour Members to join us in supporting a practical compromise and in ending uncertainty?
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): I agree that it is important that, when it comes to the vote, Members from across this whole House should put the interests of this country first—the interests of delivering on the referendum and doing it in a way that does protect jobs and our security, which is exactly what this deal does.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): The reasons why we have negotiated what we have and why, as a Government, we are committed to Northern Ireland and to not having a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland have nothing to do with the views of the Taoiseach or of the Government of the Republic of Ireland. It is about the commitment that we believe that we should be giving to the people of Northern Ireland.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: Foreign Trade
Andrew William Murrison (Conservative, Centre-right): If the UK sensibly and pragmatically continues to apply the Union customs code after Brexit, given that from the beginning of the new year we will have the new UK customs declaration service and the registered exporter system, which will replace certificates of origin, is it not the case that the European Union would not be acting in good faith if it insisted on its backstop, potentially out to 2099, as is cited in the withdrawal agreement?
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): I will be very clear with my hon. Friend that the backstop is, as is said in the withdrawal agreement and as was confirmed by the Council conclusions last week, intended to be temporary. Of course, article 50 does not allow for a permanent arrangement to be put in place. The existence of alternative arrangements that would enable us to provide that there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland would ensure either that the backstop need not be used or, if it was used, that it could be replaced quickly by those arrangements.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): It was the vote that took place in 2016 that determined that we should leave the European Union. I believe that we should leave the European Union with a good deal, and this is a good deal. I believe that the alternatives that have been put forward in some cases do not deliver on the referendum and in other cases make the use of a backstop even more likely.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Kevin John Foster (Conservative, Centre-right): The Prime Minister will recall my question last week about how we can ensure that it is clear that the UK cannot be forced to stay in the backstop indefinitely due to vetoes on extraneous issues. What comfort did she take from the comments of other European leaders, for example the Chancellor of Austria and the Prime Minister of Denmark, that that might be something the UK is able to secure?
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Nigel Martin Evans (Conservative, Centre-right): When President Juncker is not ruffling the hair of female colleagues—I think the Prime Minister got away lightly there—we know that he follows what is said in this House very carefully. He will have heard her say today, "No revocation of article 50 and no second referendum", and I suspect that he does get some succour from some of the things said in this Chamber. Can she now state for President Juncker the exact date when the United Kingdom will be leaving the European Union?
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Anne Margaret Main (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the Prime Minister for reminding the House that 472 now-sitting Members decided to give a people’s vote in 2015; I suspect that if they had decided to keep the vote just to themselves, they would have voted overwhelmingly to remain in the European Union, which means that there is now an in-built bias against delivering Brexit. So please steer a straight course, Prime Minister—the country expects us to deliver Brexit. A people’s vote is simply an opportunity to try to overturn the democratic vote.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Nigel Paul Huddleston (Conservative, Centre-right): I like to think of myself as a friendly fellow, and I have no particular inclination to fall out with colleagues on either side of the Chamber based on the details of the Brexit deal. The one thing I have learned in politics is that it is perfectly reasonable to look at identical information and come to completely different conclusions—but on values, that is where I disagree. Does the Prime Minister agree that to have a second referendum would fundamentally undermine the principle of democracy?
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Matthew Robert Warman (Conservative, Centre-right): More than three quarters of my constituents voted to leave the European Union. Can the Prime Minister imagine anything more patronising than the idea that they need more democracy—to have another go? Does she agree that their instruction was very clearly that we should be getting on with it?
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): I assure the hon. Lady that no Member of this House is afraid of a public vote. Members put themselves up for public votes on a number of occasions in order to be elected to this House. There were two sides of the argument in the referendum. Arguments were put. People voted on their belief as to whether or not we should stay in the European Union, and I believe we should deliver on the vote that people gave.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Richard Grosvenor Plunkett-Ernle-Erle-Drax (Conservative, Centre-right): Many here, including one or two senior members of the Cabinet, now refer to the "will of MPs", which is nothing more than a fig leaf to remain. It was the will of the majority of MPs to give the people a vote. They did so, and now we must honour it. If we fall back on WTO terms, so be it. Lead us, Prime Minister—get this country free and end this rancour.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend is right that it was the will of MPs that the decision as to whether to stay in the European Union be given to the people of this country. We did that, they voted to leave, and we should do it.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my hon. Friend for that, and I thank him for pointing out that, having listened to the House, it is right that I am able to have time to argue that case with the European Union and seek those further assurances that would give confidence to not only him but other Members.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: Foreign Trade
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): The manufacturing industry welcomed the fact that we have negotiated a deal and welcomed the trade arrangements that we have negotiated for the future partnership. I want to be able to deliver on that for them.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Henry Edward Millar Smith (Conservative, Centre-right): Ahead of the 2016 EU membership referendum, the Government spent more than £9 million of taxpayers’ money on leaflets delivered to every UK home advocating that we remain—but also, crucially, saying that whatever the outcome of the referendum, it would be enacted. Last year, 589 elected Members of this House stood on manifesto pledges to deliver the referendum result. Will my right hon. Friend confirm that we will be leaving the European Union on 29 March next year, deal or no deal?
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): I am happy to confirm that we will be leaving the European Union on 29 March next year. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for pointing out the significant number of Members who stood on a manifesto commitment to deliver on the vote that people took in 2016.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): The issue is partly about whether we have the customs union within the Norway plus model. However, the point about the backstop is that it is there to deal with the period from the end of a transition period to the new relationship—the new relationship being one that will deal with the guarantee to the people of Northern Ireland that there will be no hard border. In any alternative arrangement, it would be necessary to have that negotiation Norway-plus is not something that can just happen. This House might want to say it will happen; actually, Norway-plus requires such a negotiation, because we would have to negotiate to be a member of EFTA first in order to get such an arrangement in place. In doing that, there would therefore be a risk that there would be a period of time when no arrangement was in place, and that would require a backstop.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): As I have said to a number of other hon. Members, if the hon. Lady and others want to ensure that there is not a no deal situation, they have to accept that the alternatives are either accepting a deal or no Brexit. I believe we should be delivering on Brexit, and I believe we should be doing it with a good deal for the UK.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): Of course we can ensure that we do not leave with no deal. We can do that by ensuring that we leave with a deal, and a good deal for the whole of the United Kingdom.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): The motion will, of course, be amendable when it comes before the House in January. However, I have to say to the right hon. Gentleman that this is about ensuring that we can get the assurances from the European Union—that is what we are working on—and bring them back to this House, having listened to the concerns that have been raised by Members of this House.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): A number of things were said on both sides of the campaign during the referendum on the European Union. The task we have before us is not to relive that referendum, but to get on with the job of delivering on it.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): Thank you, Mr Speaker I say to the hon. Lady that the House will have a choice when the meaningful vote is brought forward on whether or not it accepts the deal that is on the table, and on what it wants in future. That choice will be available, just as the choice was available to her constituents, mine and others up and down the country in 2016 to decide whether or not to stay in the EU.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Gentleman’s question appears to based on the premise that we should be looking at staying inside the European Union. The people voted for us to leave the European Union. The economic analysis shows that the best option that meets that requirement and protects jobs is the deal.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): As we continue to work on further assurances on the deal, the hon. Gentleman knows full well that the vote will come before the House. The House will have its vote, and thereafter if the deal is not supported, the Government will bring forward their proposals for the future steps we will be taking.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): I have answered the question on extending article 50. I believe it is important for us to deliver on the vote that people took. We have it in our legislation that we will leave the European Union on 29 March 2019.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): I know the hon. Lady has a very personal interest in this issue. The withdrawal agreement sets out the agreement that has been reached between the United Kingdom and the European Union on EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU. As a Government, we have been clear that we will protect the interests of European Union citizens in the UK if there is a no-deal situation, but of course I cannot at this stage guarantee what would be the situation for UK citizens in the EU 27. That is a matter for those countries and the EU to set forward. The reciprocal arrangement that guarantees both sides is what is in the withdrawal agreement.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): I have responded to a number of questions in relation to that. This House, of course, will have a decision to take as to whether to accept the deal that is on the table. I am working to get those further assurances, as I have said, but this House will have a decision as to whether to accept that deal, and if that deal is voted down, the Government will have to come forward with their proposals for the next steps. The hon. Gentleman uses this phrase that a lot of people use, about red lines. Actually, what the Government have been doing is respecting the vote that people gave in 2016 on issues such as bringing an end to free movement and making sure that we leave the European Union.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): I am very happy to write to the hon. Gentleman with the figures for the number of civil servants who have been employed and the numbers who are continuing to be employed in dealing with leaving the European Union, because of course, we are making contingency arrangements for no deal, but there are also a lot of preparations that are taking place that have involved the employment of more civil servants, which are actually about preparing for the deal.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): The party in this House that is putting party before country is the Labour party’s Front Bench, who are putting the interests of trying to bring about a general election before the interests of actually getting a deal that works for this country.
European Council — House of Commons, 2018-12-17
Topic: International Affairs
Theresa Mary May (Conservative, Centre-right): We are making preparations for no deal. These preparations are being stepped up. We are continuing to step up those preparations. We have already published a number of issues in relation to no-deal planning, through the technical notices that have been issued, and we will be continuing to make sure that the information that is provided externally is that which is necessary to ensure that people are prepared for the possibility of a no-deal scenario.