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European Union: Future Relationship
27 February 2020
Lead MP
Michael Gove
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Crime & Law EnforcementEconomyClimateBrexitBusiness & TradeAgriculture & Rural Affairs
Other Contributors: 52
At a Glance
Michael Gove raised concerns about european union: future relationship in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The Government has honoured the referendum decision to leave the EU and is now focusing on securing a new independent future for the UK, emphasising sovereignty over laws, borders, taxes, tariffs, trade relationships, security, and democratic accountability. Talks with the EU are set to begin next week, aiming for a comprehensive free trade agreement alongside fisheries, internal security, aviation, law enforcement, judicial cooperation, environmental standards, workers' rights, civil nuclear cooperation agreements. The UK will not dilute existing protections nor align dynamically with EU rules governed by EU laws and institutions, prioritising its own governance.
Michael Gove
Con
Surrey Heath
The Government is committed to securing a fair and comprehensive free trade agreement with the EU while preserving sovereignty over UK laws, borders, taxes, tariffs, trade relationships, security, and democratic accountability. Talks will begin next week focusing on fisheries, internal security, aviation, law enforcement, judicial cooperation, environmental standards, workers' rights, civil nuclear cooperation agreements.
Paul Blomfield
Lab
Sheffield Central
The Government's Brexit ambition is underwhelming, scaling back from securing the exact same benefits to Canada-style trade. They have rejected their own commitment to a level playing field and are unwilling to make commitments on standards maintenance despite business desires. The Treasury analysis predicts a Canada-style FTA would shrink the economy by up to 6.4%. I ask the Minister about new analysis, economic impact assessments of proposed deals with the US, Japan, and others, and clarity on border checks.
Michael Gove
Con
Spelthorne
We are committed to implementing the withdrawal agreement and securing a comprehensive free trade agreement without tariffs or quotas. We do not believe maintaining EU legal order is necessary for environmental protections and workers' rights, which should be guaranteed by a sovereign UK Parliament. Our approach will allow sectors like manufacturing to flourish.
Chingford and Woodford Green
I congratulate the Minister on his view that since our standards are higher than those in the EU, we should not be demanding that the EU aligns with ours. He is right to confirm that state aid provisions will not leave the UK under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.
Pete Wishart
SNP
Perth and Kinross-shire
The Government's approach amounts to a route map for no deal, which is unacceptable. The EU expects full implementation of the political declaration including a level playing field. Any deal will be inferior to current arrangements. A hard Brexit will hurt Scotland's economy and independence support is at sustained majority levels due to these policies.
Greg Smith
Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
Welcomed Michael Gove’s statement and agreed that tethering to EU rules would hinder Britain.
Wayne David
Lab
Constituency Unspecified
Asked about the Welsh Government's stance on level playing field with the EU for international exports, noting 60% of Wales' international exports go to the EU.
John Stevenson
Con
Constituency Unspecified
Inquired if free trade agreements would be pursued with countries beyond the EU and confirmed that negotiations were underway or about to commence.
Rupa Huq
Lab
Ealing Central and Acton
Noted Brexit's financial cost, questioned on future economic impact including gendered effects and demand for an equality impact assessment from the Government.
Felicity Buchan
Con
Constituency Unspecified
Asked about protection of interests in financial services during free trade negotiations.
Kevin Brennan
Lab
Leeds South
Inquired about the UK’s future relationship regarding musicians and performers, seeking assurance on their ability to move freely and continue performing across Europe.
Rob Butler
Con
Constituency Unspecified
Agreed that an agreement by year's end was feasible, pressing for EU negotiators to recognise the UK’s sovereignty post-Brexit.
Hilary Benn
Lab
Leeds South
Challenged Michael Gove on feasibility of concluding a comprehensive free trade deal within 10 months, questioning if the UK would exit with no agreement.
David Jones
Con
Constituency Unspecified
Asked about EU's earlier stance on post-Brexit trading arrangements akin to South Korea and Canada, seeking clarification on current position.
Jamie Stone
Lib Dem
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Inquired about concerns in highland tourism industry and fish processing regarding EU nationals' employment and market access. Invited the Secretary of State to visit the constituency.
Steve Double
Con
Constituency Unspecified
Requested clarity from Michael Gove that fishing rights would not be traded off in negotiations, reassured communities on continued access to UK waters.
Michael Gove
Con
Stressed the importance of controlling UK resources independently, compared to other sovereign states like Norway and Iceland. Reassured about avoiding tariffs on automotive products and maintaining high agricultural standards in trade agreements. Emphasised no border down the Irish Sea for fishing rights. Concluded that a clear approach backed by an electoral mandate increases optimism for securing a deal.
George Howarth
Lab
Workington
Asked about potential 10% tariffs on motor vehicles, expressing concern among automotive workers about job security and future prospects.
Jerome Mayhew
Con
Broadland and Fakenham
Inquired about the maintenance of high food production standards in any free trade agreements for British farmers.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Sought confirmation that Northern Irish fishing fleets would have equal rights as those in Scotland, Wales and England without being disadvantaged by the border down the Irish Sea.
Stephen Crabb
Con
Preseli Pembrokeshire
Believed unity and clarity going into negotiations with a strong mandate from the recent election would increase optimism for securing a deal.
Pat McFadden
Lab
Wolverhampton South East
Challenged the government's prioritization of sovereignty over economic arguments, questioning if long-term consequences could undermine the goal of achieving meaningful sovereignty.
Greg Clark
Con
Islington North
Inquired about distinctions between EU regulations and European technical standards, expressing hope that British expertise will continue to influence international standards post-Brexit.
Jonathan Reynolds
Lab Co-op
Stalybridge and Hyde
Critiqued the government's statement on financial services equivalence, stating it was asking for something additional beyond existing agreements between EU and other countries.
Peter Bone
Con
Wellingborough
Asked if principles outlined in the statement would remain unchanged even when faced with rejection from the EU.
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Critiqued government's approach to Brexit negotiations as belligerent, suggesting removal of arbitrary deadlines for negotiation conclusions.
Laura Trott
Con
Sevenoaks
Suggested it might be useful for EU to recognise UK having higher standards than the EU in areas such as maternity and social rights.
Geraint Davies
Lab Co-op
Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Asked if divergence from EU environmental standards and workers’ rights would inevitably lead to restrictions, questioning the government's plan of blaming the EU for lost jobs.
David Duguid
Con
Banff and Buchan
Welcomes the statement, focusing on fisheries sovereignty and the best deal for UK fishermen despite EU assertions. Criticises SNP's stance.
Michael Gove
Con
Worcestershire
Defends the Government's approach to post-Brexit negotiations, emphasising opportunities for coastal communities and financial services sectors. Stresses adherence to referendum results and respect for UK-wide democratic decisions.
Alan Brown
SNP
Central Ayrshire
Criticises the Government for ignoring Scotland's voice in the Brexit referendum, compromising proposals from the Scottish Government, and disregarding the Sewel convention. Questions the Minister on his commitment to strengthening the Union.
Stephen Hammond
Con
Wimbledon
Welcomes the statement but questions why a separate treaty for financial services is not mentioned if there is one for fishing, and seeks clarity on the Government's position on equivalence in financial regulation.
Chris Elmore
Lab
Bridgend
Asks for more detail on regulatory co-operation regarding online harms in digital policy chapter of the report. Seeks clarification from the Minister on data adequacy and data flow agreements with the EU.
Craig Williams
Con
Montgomeryshire
Welcomes the statement's clarity and optimism, emphasising that Wales will benefit from not lowering food standards post-Brexit. Invites the Minister to meet with Welsh farming unions for reassurance on access to markets.
Claire Hanna
SDLP
Belfast South and Mid Down
Questions the Minister's approach regarding Northern Ireland, seeking clarity on how the aims of the Northern Irish protocol will be reconciled with UK-wide interests. Asks for clarification on negotiations with devolved administrations.
Sally-Ann Hart
Con
East Londonderry
Supports the Minister's reassurances to fisheries, emphasising democratic accountability as a key benefit of leaving the EU.
Kate Green
Lab Co-op
Stretford and Urmston
Highlights the importance of SIS II database for security and questions how the Government will protect access if insufficient progress is made by September. Criticises potential loss of European arrest warrant.
Havant
Asks for confirmation that UK and EU will trade under an Australian-style agreement if no comprehensive free trade deal is reached.
Stephen Doughty
Lab Co-op
Cardiff South and Penarth
Warns against damaging the economy by walking away from negotiations in June, questioning loss of access to databases crucial for security. Criticises the statement's stance on CJEU jurisdiction.
Anthony Browne
Con
Kingswood
Highlights the risk to financial stability if UK becomes a rule taker post-Brexit, emphasising the need for sovereign control over regulation.
Yesterday, as a member of the Select Committee on Defence, I heard from Professor Malcolm Chalmers of the Royal United Services Institute that 'the risks to the UK’s essential alliance relationships are greater now than they have been for many decades.' Can the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster advise the House on why the statement on our future relationship with the European Union says absolutely nothing about maintaining and improving defence?
When it comes to maintaining and improving defence, we have a network of relationships, including, of course, our membership of NATO—the strongest and most durable alliance for freedom the world has ever known. When it comes to defending this country, one of most perilous things we could do would be to follow the Scottish Government’s approach of breaking up the United Kingdom and of unilateral nuclear disarmament. I am afraid that the SNP’s position on defence, like its position on so many other issues, would mean the Scottish people were less safe.
Greenwich and Woolwich
In the light of the Minister’s remarks on a level playing field, can I ask him about competition policy and governance arrangements? Would the Government accept commitments on workers’ rights, environmental protections and consumer and social standards being subject to any dispute resolution mechanism agreed to as part of the wider agreement?
The hon. Gentleman has given a list, and I will come back to each of them in correspondence. Some will be covered by dispute resolution mechanisms, and others may not.
Scotland cast its biggest ever vote on a proposition when it voted by 62% to remain in the EU. More people in Scotland voted to remain in the EU than voted to remain in the United Kingdom—and that was using the UK Government’s franchise; had the Government trusted 16 and 17-year-olds in the way we trust them in Scotland, a bigger proportion of voters would have voted to remain in the EU. Does the right hon. Gentleman truly believe that withholding the sovereign right of the Scottish people is a sustainable position? While protecting the sovereignty of the UK, is he prepared to deny the sovereignty of Scotland?
It is the case that the Scottish nationalist party—[Hon. Members: “National!”] I am sorry, but as Robert Burns said, 'facts are chiels that winna ding'. I am afraid that the representatives on that Bench are nationalists. They put separation—the smashing up of the United Kingdom—ahead of anything else.
Justin Madders
Lab
Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
It is estimated that if agreement is reached, there will be a need for about 50,000 new customs officers. Is it feasible to recruit and train that many people in less than six months, and who is going to foot the bill for it?
Yes, it is, and the Government stand behind that.
Does the Minister recognise that even the most far-reaching and comprehensive free trade agreement will sadly still mean regulatory and rules of origin checks down the Irish sea. As such, beyond simply giving a rhetorical commitment on the implementation of the protocol, will he assure not just the House, but his negotiating partners in the EU, that the Government are preparing to implement that protocol?
We will ensure that the protocol is appropriately implemented, and we will also ensure unfettered access for businesses in Northern Ireland to the rest of the UK market.
Brexit will be extremely damaging for Scotland in a range of ways. The difference between me and the Minister is that he is a British nationalist, whereas I am a Scottish nationalist. Does he think that Brexit imposed on Scotland will increase or decrease constitutional tensions across the UK?
Britain leaving the EU will mean that there is a greater degree of harmony between every part of the United Kingdom. I recognise that that will be a disappointment to the SNP in its restless search for grievance, dissension and division, but one thing I cannot help saying is that even though I profoundly disagree with the SNP, it is so lovely to have so many SNP Members here in the Westminster Parliament.
Government Response
Crime & Law EnforcementEconomyClimateBrexitBusiness & TradeAgriculture & Rural Affairs
Government Response
We are committed to implementing the withdrawal agreement, respecting the Northern Ireland protocol, and securing a comprehensive free trade agreement. We do not believe in maintaining EU legal order for environmental protections and workers' rights. Our approach will ensure manufacturing can flourish. Negotiations should proceed at pace due to existing precedents. There will be no border down the Irish sea. Detailed responses addressing concerns about tariffs on automotive products, maintaining high agricultural standards, fishing rights for Northern Ireland, unity and clarity in negotiations, prioritising sovereignty over economic arguments, distinctions between EU regulations and technical standards, equivalence regimes for financial services, principles remaining unchanged despite EU rejection, setting deadlines not as an act of belligerence, and divergence from EU standards. Defends Government's approach to negotiations, emphasising sovereignty and opportunities for various sectors. Reaffirms commitment to adhering to referendum results and respecting devolved administrations.
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