Brexit: MPs begin second day of debate on May's deal – Politics live

Rolling coverage of the day’s politics, as full legal advice released ahead of second day of Commons debate on Brexit dealBrexit legal advice warns of UK trapped in talks by Irish backstopPMQs verdict: Corbyn has upper hand but fails to land knockout blow 1.54pm GMT Philip Hammond is giving evidence about Brexit to the Commons Treasury committee. Here are some highlights, from my colleague Richard Partington and from CityAM’s Owen Bennett.Hammond announces that the Spring Statement will be BEFORE the UK is due to leave the EU at the end of March.Hammond argues that the “small economic impact” from May’s Brexit deal is worth it, because it outweighs the social and political rift that would come if people feel politicians have “betrayed” the EU referendum result.Hammond says that UK-EU and bilateral engagement over no-deal Brexit border management has been “patchy” – some countries are better than others.Hammond: “I don’t think the backstop is something that can endure forever”Hammond tells @CommonsTreasury it would take more than 2 years to get Dover ready for no deal Brexit. “The planning system might struggle to approve such significant infrastructure changes in 2 years, let alone get them built.” 1.43pm GMT Here are some extracts from the DUP’s comment on what the full Brexit legal advice reveals.Northern Ireland remains in the EU’s customs union and will apply the whole of the EU’s customs acquis and the commission and the European court of justice will continue to have jurisdiction over its compliance with those rules. Therefore, goods passing from GB to NI will be subject to a declaration process.Northern Ireland will remain in the single market for goods and the EU’s customs regime and will be required to apply and comply with the relevant rules and standards. Herein opens up regulatory divergence in the future.In paragraph 26 it appears possible that the EU could apply that the protocol is no longer necessary “in whole or in part” and consequently it is possible that the GB elements of the customs union could fall away leaving only Northern Ireland in the EU customs territory as the minimum necessary. Continue reading…
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