As you may be aware, I supported the Remain side in the referendum, however I believe the will of the people must be respected.  The country voted to leave the European Union in a referendum approved by Act of Parliament, and the Government is determined to respect the result of the referendum.  It was made very clear in the Second Reading of the 2015 European Union Referendum Act - which passed by 544 to 53 in favour of holding the referendum - that the Government would act upon the referendum decision.

However, the decision on who can invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is currently a matter for the Supreme Court and I would not want to pre-empt their decision, but I have always been clear that Parliament must respect the wishes of the British people.  I was therefore pleased that during the Opposition Day Debate on 7 December, the Government tabled an amendment calling for Article 50 to be triggered by the end of March.  I fully support the timeline the Government has outlined and I therefore voted in favour of this motion.

Whatever the decision of the Supreme Court, the country voted to leave the EU and the UK will be leaving.