Responding to the release of Attorney General’s legal advice to Cabinet on the Withdrawal Agreement and the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, Best for Britain champion David Lammy MP said:

“This legal advice is a disaster for the government as it lays bare the unvarnished truth about how bad her Brexit deal is.

“Northern Ireland could be carved off and we could end up in a Brexit ground hog day of talks and more talks.

“This legal advice is the final nail in the coffin. Her deal is now dead.”

Commenting further on the full Brexit legal advice, Labour MP and Best for Britain champion Ian Murray MP said:

“It’s clear why the Government tried to keep the public in the dark, and this advice shines a light on the fundamental weaknesses in Theresa May’s deal.

“We now know there is no mechanism that enables the government to lawfully exit the backstop without the agreement of both parties, locking the UK in it indefinitely and costing £39bn for the privilege. All the time whilst making people poorer.

“This is the worst of all worlds, transforming the UK into a long-term rule taker with no say.

“It begs the question, what is the point of May’s deal as we are neither leaving nor remaining? That’s why this has united Leavers and Remainers in horror.

“I’m particularly concerned that only Northern Ireland could be left in the EU customs territory, which risks fracturing the United Kingdom. Theresa May claims the Union is ‘precious’ to her, but she is pursuing a deal that will weaken the Union, which proves she can’t be trusted to protect it.

“There is an alternative to this mess – a people’s vote with the option of keeping the best deal we have as a member of the EU.”

Ends

Notes to editors – The legal advice can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/761852/05_December-_EU_Exit_Attorney_General_s_legal_advice_to_Cabinet_on_the_Withdrawal_Agreement_and_the_Protocol_on_Ireland-Northern_Ireland.pdf