Contributions
4,303 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUK-EU SummitFirst, let me pick up on my right hon. Friend’s point about the cross-party support of the Select Committee. There are Conservative Members who I think are ashamed by the response…20 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitWe already are doing so, because it is important that we now get on with this as quickly as we can.20 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitOh dear. That was just such an unserious response. The right hon. Lady says that details matter in government; they matter in opposition as well. The SPS agreement cuts red tape…20 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitThis is not the full list, but the new partnership has been backed by the Federation of Small Businesses, the CBI, the British Retail Consortium, Asda, Morrisons, Salmon Scotland,…20 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitI assure the hon. Member that the £360 million fund will be brought forward as quickly as possible. We can discuss with him in due course how that will affect his constituents and…20 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitWith permission, I will update the House on the three recent trade deals that we have struck in the national interest. First, however, I would like to say something about the…20 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitI had forgotten about some of the nonsense that is spouted. On the question of how the rules are made, they will go through a parliamentary process in this House.20 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitThe detail of the agreement we reached yesterday was set out in a document which we released during the course of yesterday. If the right hon. Gentleman has not had the chance to…20 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitAn hour and a half, and we have only just got to pet passports—but I am really glad my hon. Friend mentions it. The deal contains an advance for pet passports, along with the many…20 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitNo, that is just wrong under the agreement. There is an independent arbitration—20 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitIt is the same as the Windsor framework, which the right hon. Gentleman’s party negotiated. This is an important point: it is an independent arbitration process. There is the same…20 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitI do agree. I think they are lost in the past—actually I think they are lost all together now, on a decline into oblivion. As I say, a once great party that used to support trade…20 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitWe are not making an argument for lowering our standards, and we are proud to have high standards at the moment. We want to maintain those high standards, but there will of course…20 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitI can. We have approached this on a serious, pragmatic basis. We have got a deal with 10 strands that massively takes our country forward. That is on top of the India deal and the…20 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitThe hon. Member raises an important point, and we will continue our discussions with others to try to resolve some of the frustrations—to which, common sense would suggest, we can…20 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitLet me rest on my hon. Friend’s first example, which was of cars. The India deal, which massively slashed the tariff on cars, is good for car manufacturing and good for car…20 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitAs the hon. Member knows, we are committed to Horizon. We will retain that commitment to research, because it is so important for our national interest.20 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitI learned this morning that the Deputy First Minister was in the garden at Downing Street last night. She was with businesses for a business reception. It was buzzing, because…20 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitThe principles are: bills down and jobs up, and that is exactly what this deal delivers.20 May 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitWe have taken a pragmatic, common-sense approach, with an absolute focus on reducing bills—that is hugely important to people, particularly in a cost of living crisis—and driving…20 May 2025