European Affairs

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:13 pm on 25 February 2016.

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Photo of Philip Hammond Philip Hammond Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 12:13, 25 February 2016

The hon. Lady has put her finger on it. That is what this debate will hinge on. Those who propose that we remain argue that we should stick with a proposition we know and understand, and lay on top of that the additional benefits that the Prime Minister has gained for us in the negotiation. Those who propose that we leave do not know—because they cannot know—what they are proposing to the British people. They can tell us what they would like to achieve and what they would hope to negotiate, but by definition they cannot know until afterwards and the British people cannot know until afterwards what proposition they would be voting for.