Contributions
3,157 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodI am not hinting at that, although it would be jolly nice. In my opening response, I outlined what I am expecting to happen this afternoon in terms of the Prime Minister’s…07 Dec 2020HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodI am sorry to hear about the plight of the hon. Lady’s constituent. As I have reiterated many times before, I am available every day on covid or Brexit issues, if hon. Members…07 Dec 2020HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodI agree with my hon. Friend that it only makes sense to keep one’s powder dry if one is prepared to accept no deal, but the position of the Opposition is a matter for them—I just…07 Dec 2020HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodYes, I can give the hon. Gentleman those assurances. Although we are talking about issues that are extremely difficult, particularly the three issues that I alluded to earlier,…07 Dec 2020HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodQuite right. We have as a nation been on a rollercoaster over the past few years, and the British people have been absolutely resolved, as demonstrated at the last general…07 Dec 2020HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodI think that the trust for which the United Kingdom is renowned is deep. I think it is very well understood that the moves the Government have taken with regard to the United…07 Dec 2020HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodI agree with my right hon. Friend absolutely. It is one thing I have never accepted about what has been said about the EU’s negotiating position. I do not believe that member…07 Dec 2020HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodI can give my hon. Friend those assurances. The Prime Minister has been very clear on that point and the EU negotiating team will recognise that it is a point from which we will…07 Dec 2020HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodI agree with all the points that my hon. Friend has made. I can assure him, from my involvement in the negotiations and keeping our partners informed, that all those issues with…07 Dec 2020HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodThere are many potential problems, but those problems have been methodically thought through. As I say, they range from administrative issues that the right hon. Gentleman refers…07 Dec 2020HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodAs I said, information about tariffs has been published on gov.uk. What I would say to the hon. Gentleman is that we are negotiating to ensure that we can get a deal. I understand…07 Dec 2020HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodI can give my hon. Friend and his constituents those assurances. This is an incredibly serious matter. The supply of medicines and medical devices, even without the pandemic, has…07 Dec 2020HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodWhat would be damaging for business is more prolonged uncertainty. Our businesses, as we have seen especially over the past year, are incredibly resilient and can cope with all…07 Dec 2020HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodI supported Brexit—I voted for it—and I think there are many positives and opportunities that will come from it, not least being able to increase our collaboration and…07 Dec 2020HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodAs has been said at the Dispatch Box before, a reasonable worst-case scenario is not a prediction; it is the worst case that we need to prepare for and prepare to mitigate. We…07 Dec 2020HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodI agree with my right hon. Friend. It is not just the issues that I have set out in the UK’s position that should be focusing the minds of the EU’s negotiating team and the…07 Dec 2020HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodI can give my hon. Friend those assurances. The Prime Minister has been very clear on this point, and it is something that the EU negotiating team will be fully apprised of.07 Dec 2020HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodThe right hon. Gentleman will hear no argument from me to say that no deal is going to be better than getting a deal, but everyone is working to get a deal; that is our objective.…07 Dec 2020HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodThe hon. Gentleman has surpassed himself today. As someone who has worked very hard with Mike Russell and other colleagues to ensure that their views and ideas are taken up by the…07 Dec 2020HANSARDUK-EU Future Relationship Negotiations and Transition PeriodI thank my right hon. Friend for his comments, and for saving my breath in saying that again. He is absolutely right. I think it has been a difficulty on the EU side to come to…07 Dec 2020