Sophy Ridge on Sunday Interview with Dr Phillip Lee MP

ANY QUOTES USED MUST BE ATTRIBUTED TO SOPHY RIDGE ON SUNDAY, SKY NEWS

SOPHY RIDGE: Dr Phillip Lee has been refusing interviews all week but we managed to speak to the man himself so let’s hear from the horse’s mouth this reasons for resigning in his first TV interview since standing down. So talk me through your reasons for resigning.

DR PHILLIP LEE: I’ve been struggling with this decision for many weeks. Ultimately this was about Parliament being given the opportunity to make a judgement on the deal and at the moment we didn’t have that opportunity in the way that I thought was appropriate so I resigned to try to secure that.

SR: In your resignation you mentioned your constituents, we’ve just been to Bracknell which people seem pretty split, in fact Sky News analysis shows that Leave narrowly edged it in your seat so how can you be doing what’s right for them?

DR PHILLIP LEE: You are right, it is split and in fact it’s not possible to declare whether it was Remain or Leave because the figures that are in the public domain are for Bracknell Forest and I don’t represent Bracknell Forest, I represent a constituency that also includes Wokingham which was strongly Remain but ultimately I’m a trustee as a Member of Parliament, I’m elected to represent the best interests of my constituents and that’s what I try to do as their Member of Parliament.

SR: Certainly some members of your local party aren’t happy with your decision, we spoke to the Chair of the Local Association and he says he’s received nearly a hundred letters from people who are unhappy with what you’ve chosen to do and only one in support.

DR PHILLIP LEE: Well I recognise, as I say, that this is an issue which is toxic, people are split. I have received hundreds the other way from constituents but ultimately, as the Member of Parliament, I have to weigh up the pros and cons and stand on what I think is right for my constituency. That’s the honourable thing to do and integrity in public life matters to me.

SR: Now are you worried about not being readopted by your local party at the next election?

DR PHILLIP LEE: I’m not worrying about that at the moment, I think that when people can see that what I’m trying to do here is to avoid the worst of both worlds, I’m trying to bring Leave and Remain together because I fear at the moment that we’re ending up at a destination that nobody voted for, neither Leavers nor Remainers, and I don't think we have the consent of the people to do that.

SR: Someone who would disagree with your analysis on that is the Prime Minister, Theresa May, someone you count as a friend. Do you feel upset about having betrayed her?

DR PHILLIP LEE: I am upset because she is a friend, I’ve known her for almost 20 years, but ultimately I had to put my country before that friendship and I’m comfortable with the decision I’ve made.

SR: Did you tell her before?

DR PHILLIP LEE: Yes, I did, she was informed before I made my announcement.

SR: You have got to ask, just stepping back from the situation, whether or not what you did was worth it and I’m interested to know your opinion on this because it feels as if you have given up your Ministerial career, you’ve upset someone you count as a friend, you were the only person who resigned on this and then on the final vote you abstained anyway so was it worth it, what was the point?

DR PHILLIP LEE: I think I moved the government on its position and I’m hoping that in the coming week the government will move to the position which I wanted to vote for on Tuesday. The thing I wanted a vote on was not placed before the House so I was in a situation where I couldn’t vote for something and I also wanted to trust the Prime Minister with the word she’d given to other colleagues that she would deliver the amendment that they could support in the Lords. I continue to trust that she will do that.

SR: So the current amendment that the government has put forward, are you happy with that?

DR PHILLIP LEE: I’m not in negotiations with the amendment as they are taking place, I am not part of any group whatsoever, I stand alone.

SR: So would you support the government’s amendment if it comes back to the House on Wednesday?

DR PHILLIP LEE: My intention is to support Dominic Grieve in the amendment that he put before the House because that’s what publicly stated last Tuesday. This amendment I guess may be amended and if that is acceptable I will support that but fundamentally I resigned to support Parliament getting a proper truly meaningful vote on the deal to leave the European Union.

SR: Do you think there will be more people who resign their positions? Because there are have been rumours about other resignations in the pipeline, what do you think?

DR PHILLIP LEE: Well before I made my decision I made my decision in isolation, it was a decision about my own future on the basis of what I thought and since I made that decision, yes, I’ve had communications, conversations with Ministers at all levels who are concerned about the direction of travel but it’s up to them to make their own judgements about when it is right for them and how to express those views, it’s not up to me.

SR: No, but you think other resignations could be on the cards?

DR PHILLIP LEE: I honestly don’t know.

SR: But people certainly have concerns as you do?

DR PHILLIP LEE: Yes.

SR: And what are your concerns then about the way the government is handling Brexit?

DR PHILLIP LEE: I worry that we are going to end up in the worst of both worlds, so that both Leavers and Remainers are unhappy with the outcome. That isn’t good for my country and I want a better future for my country, for my children, for my grandchildren and that’s why I’ve done what I’ve done.

SR: What do you make of the behaviour of some of your Brexit supporting colleagues, people like David Davis who is threatening to resign if he doesn’t get what he wants?

DR PHILLIP LEE: Look, I’m not here to judge other people’s behaviour. I have made a decision about my political career, the position I’ve taken. I’ve made a sacrifice, I believe I’ve moved the government towards a position that I think is in the best interests both of parliament and of the country.

SR: And finally, does it worry you that the government is putting all their attention onto Brexit and perhaps not focusing enough on some of those burning injustices that Theresa May spoke about when she stood on the steps of Downing Street?

DR PHILLIP LEE: That speech in 2016 by the Prime Minister was outstanding, I quoted it in my speech prior to my resignation on Tuesday. Once Brexit’s delivered I’m convinced I know that the Prime Minister will deliver on that.

SR: Dr Phillip Lee there, explaining the reasons behind his resignation.