House of Commons · General Debate
09 December 2025 · 3 other contributors
Opened by Al Pinkerton LD Surrey Heath
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Al Pinkerton raised concerns about uk-eu customs union (duty to negotiate) 2025-12-09 in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Brexit has been an economic failure, leading to reduced business investment, shattered resilience, and higher costs. The UK faces significant challenges with its current relationship with the EU, including trade barriers that harm small businesses and increase red tape. Dr Pinkerton advocates for a customs union between the UK and the EU as a means of reducing frictions and promoting growth, citing economic analyses showing negative impacts from Brexit.
Opposes the Bill arguing that the UK is not weaker or more isolated post-Brexit. Cites examples of international support and alliances to counter claims of isolation. Emphasises that the referendum result must be respected, highlighting that while he voted to remain, he accepts the democratic decision made by the British people.
The proposal would undermine business certainty, which is vital for businesses up and down the country as they are settling into new trading regimes post-Brexit. Businesses have been making a decent fist of it with the help of the Government's work to iron out creases in trade relations.
The Bill would require rewriting or scrapping existing trade deals, which is counterproductive and shows bad faith towards those who have worked hard to deliver them. The EU does not want a customs union with Turkey-style terms and sees the UK as a third country, showing no interest in revisiting previous agreements.