John Baron MP questions Brexit Secretary

MP says Britain must leave the EU

Today in the House of Commons, the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, Rt Hon David Davis MP, responded to an Urgent Question on the Brexit negotiations.

In the Chamber, John asked,

“Staying in the Single Market and Customs Union is incompatible with respecting the result of the EU referendum. In any negotiation there will be ups and downs, and is it not important to recognise that both sides have accepted the principle that ‘nothing’s agreed until everything’s agreed’?”

The Secretary of State agreed with John, pointing out it was officials in Brussels, not London, forecasting a good outcome yesterday, and that the Government is working towards an agreement by 15th December.

John said afterwards,

“Those who claim we can ‘solve’ the Irish border issue by staying in the Customs Union and Single Market ignore the fact that over 17 million people voted to leave the European Union in last year’s referendum. Membership of these is tantamount to remaining in the EU. This may be what some ‘remainers’ want, but it is not what millions people voted for.”

“There is still a good chance an agreement on the first phase of Brexit talks will soon be concluded. However, as with any negotiation, we must be prepared to break off talks if we can not agree a good deal for Britain. Many countries use World Trade Organisation rules to trade easily and profitably with the EU, and Britain will be no different if need be.”