Iain Duncan Smith outlines his reasoning for backing the Withdrawal Agreement based on a change in the balance of risks, in particular a damaging and destructive extension that would mean we never leave the European Union.
Iain Duncan Smith leads a debate on modern slavery and specifically on the need for victim support and the lack of a clear pathway for victms to move from exploitation to recovery. He calls on the Government to support the Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill which would put into law victims’ entitlement to support during the period of evidence gathering and introduce a statutory duty to provide victims with ongoing support and leave to remain for a period of up to 12 months.
Iain Duncan Smith questions the Government about the role of the Joint Committee outlined in the Brexit withdrawal agreement, in particular where the committee will make legal rulings in “situations unforeseen” who decided was it unforeseen?
Iain Duncan Smith urges the Government to tighten controls on the gambling industry to tackle the industry's scandalous behaviour of incentivising vulnerable gamblers who rack up huge debts and become addicted to gambling.
Iain Duncan Smith says the EU will not want the UK to extend Article 50 beyond the European Parliament election as we would have to take part in those elections and then leave the EU. This would result in the European Parliament being unconstituted.
Iain Duncan Smith backs the Malthouse compromise as it provides an opportunity to keep the deal whilst finding an alternative to the backstop or, in the event of not having the deal, managing the process of leaving with arrangements in place for a managed no-deal.
In response to the Attorney General’s legal opinion on the withdrawal agreement and unilateral declaration, Iain Duncan Smith asks him about the EU’s obligation to consider any backstop alternative arrangements proposed by the UK.