Yahoo News Jim Fitzpatrick: Labour MP tells Victoria Derbyshire he will vote for Boris Johnson's Brexit deal even though he has not read it
A Labour MP has said he intends to vote for Boris Johnson's Brexit deal "in principle" even though he has not read it.
With debate on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill starting in Parliament at 12.30pm today, Jim Fitzpatrick said he only "hopes" to have read the PM's deal in full ahead of a Commons vote at 7pm.
In an interview with Victoria Derbyshire on Tuesday morning, Mr Fitzpatrick added that he had not even read the explanatory notes or the impact assessment.
"This is a vote in principle - the second reading vote at 7pm tonight is essentially to say 'let's get discussing this bill'," he said.
But the BBC presenter asked him: "Do you think it is acceptable to vote for something in principle, when you have not read it?"
The Poplar and Limehouse MP replied: "I will have read it by 7 o'clock tonight, I hope."
Ms Derbyshire asked Mr Fitzpatrick why he only "hopes" to have read the proposal ahead of a vote this evening on the Bill's timetable. She added: "Is this not what people pay you to do?"
"People pay me to make decisions, Victoria," he replied. "And we have been discussing this in detail for the last 11-and-a-half months."
"There are some important changes as you well know," Ms Derbyshire said.
Mr Fitzpatrick was also asked if he would vote for Mr Johnson's super quick timetable. "Yes again, this is a threshold, this is a framework agreement", he said.
