Brexit Blog: House update on Brexit negotiation process.

This week in Parliament the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union delivered a statement to the House of Commons updating us on the progress of the Brexit negotiations. I wanted to write a brief piece to keep you informed about the latest Brexit developments here in Parliament.

 

Negotiations are continuing at pace and both sides are working towards achieving a deal in time for the European Council summit next week. Around 80% of the withdrawal agreement has already been settled and the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, has recently said that “I have reason to think that the rapprochement potential between both sides has increased in recent days.”

 

The Prime Minister remains clear the Government seeks a deal to govern the future relationship with our European friends and neighbours. However, it must be a good deal. The Government will not agree a deal which is not in Britain’s interests.

 

The Prime Minister has also reaffirmed her commitment to maintaining the constitutional integrity of the UK. At the Conservative Party Conference last week, Theresa May said that she would never accept a border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK in a deal with the EU. 

 

Preparations are continuing for all eventualities, including the unlikely scenario that the UK leaves the EU without a deal. I have previously written about the Government’s technical notices which have been published to advise business and consumers in the event of a no deal Brexit.

Leaving without a deal would mean that the UK trades with the EU on WTO terms. This is not a cliff-edge scenario. The WTO is deliberately designed to avoid such a situation. The Director-General of the WTO, Robert Azevedo, has said that trading under WTO rules for the UK “is not the end of the world”. He also added that “About half of the UK’s trade is already on WTO terms, with the US, China and several large emerging nations where the EU doesn’t have trade agreements”.

 

We are leaving the EU on 29^th March 2019 and we will no longer be sending vast sums of money to the EU each year. We will have control of our own trade policy with a new business friendly customs model providing us with the freedom to strike new trade deals around the world. The UK will be pursuing a close, special partnership with our European friends; so the Government is aiming for a UK-EU free trade area with a common rulebook for industrial goods and agricultural products which I hope will be good for business and jobs.

 

The plan the Government is pursuing remains the only credible, pragmatic approach that fully respects the referendum result whilst maintaining the integrity of the United Kingdom. The Government is continuing to strive for an ambitious free trade agreement which will protect jobs, businesses, and consumers from any potential disruption.

 

I will continue to support the Government’s measured approach to Brexit in Parliament. I also welcome hearing views from all my constituents on Brexit to ensure your views can be fed in to Parliament and the Government. I remain confident that both Norwich and the UK will continue to prosper as we leave the EU.