Webchat with Anna Soubry on Brexit and beyond - Tuesday 22 January at 10.30am

[BojanaMumsnet]

Hello

We’re pleased to announce a webchat with Anna Soubry MP to discuss all things Brexit. Anna was a Remain campaigner and currently supports calls for a second referendum. Anna made headlines a couple of weeks ago when she was harassed outside Parliament and urged the police to take more action.

Anna has been the Conservative MP for Broxtowe since the 2010 General Election. After more than a year attending Cabinet as Minister of State for Small Business, Anna chose to return to the backbenches in July 2016, be able to represent her views on the “positive benefits of immigration and the EU.”

Please do join the chat on Tuesday at 10.30am, or if you can’t make it, leave a question here in advance.

We’re expecting this to be a busy webchat, so only existing Mumsnet users are able to post on this thread.

As always, please remember our webchat guidelines - one question per user, follow-ups only if there’s time and most questions have been answered and please keep it civil. Also if one topic is overwhelmingly dominating a discussion with a guest, mods might request that people don't continue to post what's effectively the same question or point. Rest assured we will ALWAYS let the guest know that it's an area of concern to multiple users and will encourage them to engage with those questions.

And finally - we did have a pro-Brexit webchat guest lined up for this week (Jacob Rees Mogg) but they cancelled on us so we’re trying to line up a replacement as we speak.

Many thanks.

The official portrait of Anna Soubry is used under an Attribution 3.0 Unported licence - image may be cropped for purpose.

[AnnaSoubryMP]

@TresDesolee

(Cheeky follow up, sorry) did you see the channel 4 Brexit drama that focused on Dominic Cummings? What did you think?

No, sorry!

[twofingerstoEverything]

AnnaSoubry
I think the real problem is that we haven't positively made the case for immigration,
Thank you for saying this! I sometimes think the entire nation has been groomed by the anti-immigrant rhetoric expressed in much of our mainstream media. We need to be much more honest about the very real benefits of immigration.

[AnnaSoubryMP]

@cloudtree

Since Cold asked a slightly different question I'll ask the normal one.

What is your favourite biscuit and will you be buying extras before the end of March stockpiling it ?

My favourite biscuits are ginger nuts and no I will not be stockpiling - even though one of my good friends described as a 'Leicester mum of two' is on the record as having begun to stockpile.

[AnnaSoubryMP]

@cloudtree

Hi Anna

My husband recently accosted you on a train back into Nottingham and started chatting to you about brexit when you were trying to relax. Sorry about that . My one question is do you think there will be an extension given that it is being widely reported that there is not enough parliamentary time left to pass the legislation and statutory instruments necessary for us to leave on 29th March?

Thank you for the stance you are taking. Politicians have a duty to do what is right for the country as a whole even where it might be more self serving for them to stick with the line that they must follow the "wishes of the people".

I'm pleased to say I get stopped far more by people being really reasonable and supportive than people who abuse me. So there's no need to blush!

[AnnaSoubryMP]

@umpteennamechanges

Hi Anna,

Irrespective of what outcome you would like, how would you personally rate the probability of:

No Deal
Withdrawal Agreement
Revoke/Remain
People's Vote

Honestly I don't know what is going to happen so I am making no predictions - but I can't believe the progress people's vote has made.

[cloudtree]

You're lucky though since ginger nuts last for ages without going stale so if you did need to stockpile...

[BlueEyeshadow]

What scares me most is the idea of the combined stubbornness of Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn pushing us over the edge. How can sensible MPs get to a compromise if neither of the leaders will budge?

[AnnaSoubryMP]

@lonelyplanetmum

Hi Anna- very encouraging that you are reaching out to everyone on here at an early stage.

No last minute reaching out for you! I can't add to all the excellent questions but just want to add huge thanks for your grit, bravery, logic and common sense.

I hear you're not that keen on hugs and kisses but this deserves big hugs. Thank you.

[reallybadidea]

even though one of my good friends described as a 'Leicester mum of two' is on the record as having begun to stockpile.

If she's a good friend then I'm sure she'll be stockpiling ginger nuts too

[AnnaSoubryMP]

@reallybadidea

Thank you for answering my question. I'm not sure whether I'm allowed a second one, but if I am:

As far as I understand, there is just no way round the Northern Ireland thing? There legally has to be some sort of border between us and the EU if we're not in the single market. A hard border with Ireland would be illegal because of the Good Friday agreement and likely provoke violence. A border in the Irish Sea would upset the DUP. No Deal would mean that there still has to be a border somewhere. So there is literally no way around it based on EU law and the Good Friday agreement. Is this correct and if so surely the only options are to either have a permanent customs union or revoke article 50?

The only way to avoid a hard border is to be in a customs union and as you identified the single market. I have always supported that option, which is now called Norway plus, to be fair it has some serious disadvantages as we would be very much a real taker not a real maker and I get the argument that if we stayed in both we might as well stay in the EU. I do believe the best deal we have is the current deal with the EU!

[Thegirlinthefireplace]

Did my question get missed?

I'll repeat it. I sincerely believe many MPs believe that not leaving the EU is the most sensible option but almost none of them say it. Do you think this type of game playing and dishonesty is why we are in this mess?

Many thanks

[AnnaSoubryMP]

@lalalonglegs

Hi Anna

First, can I thank you for being such a stalwart in the fight against Brexit. The way that you and other Conservative rebels have been treated has been absolutely shocking and I am grateful to you for continuing to speak up for the Remain cause despite the horrors that you have to face in doing so.

My question is: how worried are you about losing your seat if there is a snap election? Do you think a general election will give the government (or the opposition) a clearer mandate to go forward with Brexit?

I just believe that you've got to be true to what you believe is in the best interests of our country and therefore my constituents. What I will say is that I was honoured to be re-elected in 2017. Yes there was a swing against me, it was 3%. All I will say is that the swing in Maidenhead was 4%... which was the national swing against the Conservatives. But I don't take anything for granted.

[AnnaSoubryMP]

@BlueEyeshadow

What scares me most is the idea of the combined stubbornness of Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn pushing us over the edge. How can sensible MPs get to a compromise if neither of the leaders will budge?

That why is I am supporting Yvette Cooper's bill and Dominic Grieve's amendment.

[BrieAndOatcakes]

Do you think the general public are well informed about what a No Deal scenario would mean in terms of shortages etc., and if not why aren't the government doing more to make people aware? It's hard to believe everyone shouting in favour of No Deal truly understands that there would be major disruption and probably food and fuel shortages.

[SingingBabooshkaBadly]

Anna, thank you for taking part in this Webchat and for the courage and determination you have shown.

Given that a government’s primary responsibitlity should be the protection of its citizens and, given that every predictions including those of the government itself, is that No Deal would cause immense damage, would the government not be guilty of a dereliction of duty if No Deal were allowed to happen? As a lawyer, do you see any legal case against an executive that allowed that to happen by refusing to take it off the table?

[AnnaSoubryMP]

@CatJenna

Hi Anna,

What do you think the EU will look like in the future, with its aims of ever more centralisation, EU army and so on? If it was possible to change it from within surely this would have happened by now?

I think the EU will undoubtedly reform. I've been very interested by the comments of Macron who talks about how important it is that the EU has relevance to every individual that is in a member state. It may be that there will be, as some observers have put it, different circles of members within the EU. The best way undoubtedly to reform the EU (and it certainly needs reform) is to work from within.

[AnnaSoubryMP]

@HerLadySheep

Do you think that there will be shortages of medicine and food in the event of a no-deal Brexit?

I think it is a real possibility. There is no doubt we are not properly prepared for a no deal.

[Violetparis]

Thank you for answering my question.

[AnnaSoubryMP]

@Thegirlinthefireplace

Did my question get missed?

I'll repeat it. I sincerely believe many MPs believe that not leaving the EU is the most sensible option but almost none of them say it. Do you think this type of game playing and dishonesty is why we are in this mess?

Many thanks

I think we need to be very clear that we voted to have a referendum and we said that we would honour the result. And many MPs represent leave seats and so do fear an adverse reaction from their electorate. However I think it is very significant that the majority of Labour north east MPs in heavily leave-voting constituencies are now backing a people's vote. That's because their constituents are demanding a final say. And a significant number have changed their minds. I don't think you should underestimate that some MPs do fear their local party associations and that threats of de-selection are not hollow. But again I say, none of us are trying to stop Brexit, we want the matter to go to the people. Only the people can stop Brexit.

[annemariemn]

Good morning Anna,
I just want to say how I hugely respect all that you do, your bravery, determination and logical argument.
I hope that your moderate Conservative colleagues currently supporting TMs deal will let her know that their support will disappear as she continues to make more and more concessions to the ERG and that they are ready to support Peoples Vote and avoid more wasted resources on preparing for No Deal and even risking it happening.

[AnnaSoubryMP]

@user1471448556

Thank you so much for sticking to your principles and for speaking out against Brexit.
But why is the Tory government completing ignoring the 48%+ who do not want Brexit and who do not want their rights as EU citizens being stripped from them against their will. There has been no attempt by May to seek a compromise position and acknowledge our concerns. Instead we have been insulted and are never included in her assumptions/assertions about 'the British people'. Why is that?

I agree and those in government who have ignored the 48% are the only people who can offer up an explanation.

[derxa]

I'll repeat it. I sincerely believe many MPs believe that not leaving the EU is the most sensible option but almost none of them say it. Do you think this type of game playing and dishonesty is why we are in this mess?
Thegirl I'm posting this sensible observation again.

[AnnaSoubryMP]

@BlueEyeshadow

Thank you for the stance you have taken on Brexit. Some kind of compromise is needed now, but how can we get there when the PM is refusing to back down on any of her "red lines"?

That's why Parliament needs to take back control. And that's why I am supporting Yvette Cooper's Bill and Dominic Grieve's amendment.

[message edited by MNHQ because one of our staff apparently had Dominic Cooper on the brain...]

[RegularShowRules]

I think my question on epi pens have been missed, it seems no MP wants to acknowledge the seriousness of this crisis.

[AnnaSoubryMP]

@CariGransnet

And one more from Gransnet

GrandmaKT Do you worry that if we had a second referendum the majority would still be for leave? According to threads on this website, hardly anyone who voted leave in the original referendum would change to remain, and some who originally voted remain would change to leave because of the perceived threat to democracy.

If we have a people's vote and the majority back a leave deal - that's it. That is the end of it. We will know exactly on what terms we are leaving and that outcome will have a clear mandate. I don't have any fear of that. What worries me is that if it is right, the majority of eligible voters do not support our leaving the European union and we leave ignoring the majority - that will have profound consequences for generations to come.