FOLLOWING a historic vote in parliament on Tuesday to decide whether ministers were in contempt of Parliament, Geoffrey Cox, Attorney General and Conservative MP for Torridge and West Devon, as a result has had to publish the full six pages of his legal advice concerning the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal.

Mr Cox did not believe it was in public interest for the full advice to be published so instead presented a summary, taking questions afterwards in the House of Commons. During the ensuing debate Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour) said: “It will be for you, Mr Speaker, to rule on whether there has been an arguable case of contempt for what we on the Opposition Benches believe to be a failure to comply with the motion of November 13. For the sake of our economy, our jobs and our futures, all possible information should be made available to Members of this House. The government should do the right thing and make the full advice available. With so much at stake for all our constituents and with eight days to go before the vote on the deal, this House and this country deserve better from this government.”

The results of the vote to find government ministers in contempt and ordering the full legal advice on the Brexit deal to be published were 311 for and 293 against. MPs previously rejected the amendment to the motion with 307 votes for and 311 against.

MP for North Cornwall Scott Mann and Mr Cox both voted against.

Following the results shadow Brexit secretary Sir Kier Starmer (Labour) said: “I hope the government will now confirm and comply with that order. But if the government fails to respond, what steps can I and others take to ensure the government does comply with this motion and before the vote that we have next Tuesday [December 11].”

Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom said: “We’ve tested the opinion of the House twice on this very serious subject. We’ve listened carefully and in light of the expressed will of the house, we will publish the final and full advice provide by the Attorney General to cabinet but recognising the very serious constitutional issues this raises I have raised the matter to the privileges committee to consider the implications of the humble address.”

Sir Starmer asked for confirmation of when the report was to be published in light of the impending vote taking place as the Post went to press on December 11, which would see the MPs decide whether to approve the Brexit deal. The leader said ‘the government will respond tomorrow’ [Wednesday, December 12].

Following the release of the full report, Sir Starmer responded: “Having reviewed the Attorney General’s legal advice, it’s obvious why this needed to be placed in the public domain.”

Following the vote, Mr Cox said the decision to make his legal advice available to MPs by placing it in parliamentary libraries ‘does not set a precedent for any future release of law officers’ advice’.

In a written statement, Mr Cox said: “It remains a fundamental constitutional convention that neither the fact, nor the content, of law officers’ advice is disclosed outside government without the law officers’ consent.

“That convention provides the fullest guarantee that the business of governments is conducted at all times in the light of thorough and candid legal advice, which may also enter into matters of acute sensitivity to the public interest.

“It is necessary that the public has confidence in the ability of government and Parliament to work together at a time of national decision-making of the most profound significance.

“The standing of the House of Commons is also of prime importance. For these reasons, having tested the will of the House twice, the government will respect its decision and, in these exceptional circumstances and to resolve for the present those constitutional tensions, it has decided, with my consent, to publish this advice.”