Dodds accuses Government of ‘hiding’ over ministers’ refusal to publish legal advice

DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds has claimed the Government has “something to hide” by not publishing the full legal advice it received on the Brexit deal.

Solicitor General Robert Buckland pledged that the Government would publish a “full, reasoned statement” soon.

But speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Dodds said that wasn’t enough and accused the Government of not listening.

The Labour Party is also calling for the publication of the full legal advice provided by Attorney General Geoffrey Cox on the deal.

Earlier this month, MPs approved a Labour motion which called for the publication of any legal advice in full on the proposed withdrawal agreement.

But the Government committed only to giving a “full, reasoned position statement” and offered a question and answer session in the Commons with Mr Cox.

The DUP deputy leader said: “Why doesn’t the Solicitor General and the Government start listening?

“That has been the problem all along. What has the Government got to hide?”

Mr Buckland replied: “This is not an incidence where the Government seeks to delay or hide — this is all about providing information at the right time ahead of the important debate I know he’ll be playing an important part in.”

Opposition parties and others want to consider the full legal advice ahead of the December 11 vote in Parliament on Theresa May’s Brexit agreement.

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer accused ministers of showing “contempt” for the Commons over the matter, while senior Liberal Democrat Tom Brake confirmed he has written to Speaker John Bercow asking whether the Government’s response to the motion approved by MPs is a matter of contempt.

Sir Keir said: “It is wholly unacceptable — and frankly shows contempt for this House — for Government ministers, including the Prime Minister at the despatch box yesterday, now to pretend that the House was only asking for partial or qualified legal advice.”