TOMORROW was set to be one of the biggest days in the modern history of Britain.

MPs were due to decide whether to back Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement with the European Union – with the government expected to lose that vote.

We asked our eight MPs, all Conservatives, for their views, ahead of the developments on Monday (see above).

  • Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East): “Bournemouth East voted 55 per cent in favour of leaving the EU. I voted to remain and where we are today is not where I wanted to be. But it is my democratic duty as an MP to honour the referendum result by supporting the Brexit deal.

“This deal returns control of our borders, laws and spending, provides for an orderly transition and retains a workable partnership with Europe.

“If Parliament does not agree a Brexit deal soon, then we must recognise that the original mandate to leave (taken over two years ago) will begin to date and will, eventually, no longer represent a reflection of current intent.”

  • Sir Christopher Chope (Christchurch): “I shall vote against the Withdrawal Agreement. It does not give us back control over our laws, our money or our borders. The Conservative Party manifesto promised that the terms of withdrawal and future arrangements would be agreed together. But the Prime Minister is now asking Parliament to agree to forfeit £39billion without anything in return and to surrender to the punishment deal being imposed by the EU.

“She should follow her own advice that ‘no deal’ is better than a ‘bad deal’, call the bluff of the EU and leave on World Trade Organisation terms on March 29, 2019.”

  • Sir Robert Syms (Poole): “I voted to leave the EU, to trigger Article 50 and all the subsequent legislation for us to leave. The deal announced does have some good things in it, but it also has a number of aspects such the Irish backstop which make it very difficult for me to support. I had hoped the EU would show more generosity of spirit in the negotiations but yet again I think they have misjudged the UK.

“I have decided that I will vote against, unless the proposal is amended. I think the Government should go back to the EU to amend the deal.

“If the Government loses the vote as expected then Parliament will have to decide what to do in January.

“If a compromise is necessary, my main objective would be to honour the referendum and ensure the UK leaves the European Union at the end of March.”


  • Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West): “I have been highly critical of the proposals given the risk that they may trap us in a state of limbo tied to the EU. Equally I have to consider other risks such as ending up not leaving the EU at all.

“In any event, I owe it to my constituents to wait until I have heard and reflected on the entire parliamentary debate before announcing my decision. Were I to do so now, then there would be little point in having the debate at all.”

  • Conor Burns (Bournemouth West): “Any vote that asks the question ‘Leave or Remain’ will by definition divide. So it has been since the EU referendum in 2016 and we remain as divided as ever.

“Both sides had good arguments. A seat at the EU table or taking the opportunities of global trade deals and control over our own decisions. My fear is that the deal the Prime Minister has negotiated offers the worst of all outcomes. And it risks undermining our Union. I will vote against it but I want us to get Brexit done and get back to focusing on the things I know my constituents care about: health, education, dignity in retirement and a growing economy. That for me cannot come a moment too soon.”


  • Richard Drax (South Dorset): “I would like to briefly list five of the reasons that I cannot vote with the government on Tuesday.

"First, it does not deliver what the people voted for. Secondly, the backstop is a potential trap. Thirdly, the Prime Minister promised repeatedly to respect the constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom; the withdrawal agreement does not. Fourthly, we intend to hand over up to £39billion of taxpayers’ hard-earned money without so much as a by-your-leave. Fifthly, the much ignored and extremely ambiguous political declaration leaves far too much room for mischievous politicians, both here and in Brussels, to play fast and loose with the UK struggle to leave the EU.”

  • Michael Tomlinson (Mid-Dorset and North Poole): “I take the view that our laws should be made in Westminster, by our elected politicians, and not in Brussels. Therefore Brexit is a question of sovereignty. This means that the Withdrawal Agreement needs to meet two key tests. Firstly that any transition is strictly time limited and that we can get out of it. And secondly that it maintains the integrity of the United Kingdom. As the attorney general confirmed in the House, neither of these key tests have been met. It is with great sadness that I will not be able to support the PM’s deal and it will be the first time I have ever voted against the government.”
  • Simon Hoare (North Dorset) did not respond but tweeted on Saturday: “I must have chatted to 70 people yesterday. I found some for No Deal but the vast majority wanted the deal and for me to back the PM.“At Blandford Carols people came up to me and out of the blue said ‘Hope you’re backing the PM’.”