These arguments were put—almost as forcefully as my hon. Friend is putting them—when we had our debates before Christmas in Committee.
This House then passed an amendment on a meaningful vote, defeating the Government. People had foreseen that that would undermine the Prime Minister, cause an election and represent a crisis, but the next morning, apart from the fact that there was now to be a meaningful vote, nothing stirred. The position of the Prime Minister was not weakened and negotiations have not been hindered. My hon. Friend is putting his arguments with his usual great eloquence but, with great respect, they avoid what we are really talking about, which is the important process of parliamentary accountability.