Brexit: Labour accuses ministers of planning to break agreement to publish ‘full’ legal advice

Follows unanimous Commons motion calling on ministers to release full legal advice on deal, including plans for Irish backstop

Labour's shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer outside European Commission headquarters in Brussels (Reuters)

Labour has demanded that Theresa May publishes the full legal advice on her Brexit deal and Irish backstop proposal, as concerns mount the government will publish only a summary.

Writing to the Cabinet Office minister David Lidington, the party’s shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer is now seeking an “urgent assurance” that all advice handed to ministers will be made available to MPs in the next couple of days.

Sir Keir made clear the Commons “will accept nothing short” of the legal advice already presented to cabinet, adding: “A legal summary is clearly not sufficient and will not comply with the unanimous decision made by the House of Commons.”

It comes after Labour’s successful motion earlier this month in the Commons which required the government to publish its full confidential legal advice on the withdrawal agreement – agreed by the EU27 on Sunday.

In his letter, Sir Keir wrote: “During the debate it was made clear that the government accepted this limited and reasonable request. The speaker also confirmed the decision taken by the House was binding.”

He continued: “I’m writing to seek your urgent assurance that the government will comply with the motion in full and within the next couple of days.

“At this crucial stage parliament must be given the necessary information to know precisely what has been agreed to and what is being asked for a vote on.”

Sir Keir’s concerns were raised after the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) – in response to a question in the Lords – appeared to confirm that the government intended to publish only a legal summary, rather than the full advice given to ministers by the attorney general, Geoffrey Cox.

Speaking in the upper chamber, Lord Keen, an MoJ spokesperson, said: ”The government recognises the legitimate desire in parliament, from members on all sides and both Houses, to understand the legal implications of the final withdrawal agreement.

“The government will therefore make available to all members of parliament a full, reasoned position statement, setting out the government’s agreed legal position on the agreement, including the Irish backstop proposals.”

The call from Labour follows the prime minister’s announcement on Monday that the “meaningful vote” will take place on Tuesday 11 December, at the close of five days of debates.