At 2:30pm today, Nus Ghani reports that she proudly voted in Parliament for the Prime Minister’s free trade deal with the EU. I will be joining my colleagues and many European Parliamentarians in backing this new trade relationship with our European neighbours.
"Today is a triumph for the Government as they secured a deal that the opposition benches and commentators said just couldn’t be done. I have congratulated the Prime Minister and his team for getting us a deal which is good for the UK and for the businesses and residents of Wealden, before the end of the transition period.
The Prime Minister has agreed the biggest trade and co-operation deal in the world in extremely challenging and unprecedented global conditions. Both negotiating teams have worked incredibly hard and this is an extraordinary achievement. Many of you will know that I campaigned for Brexit over sovereignty and while the tariff-free trade deal is excellent news, the best news is that with our parliamentary sovereignty returned, we are free to legislate quickly and ambitiously for the 80% of the economy that doesn’t trade with the EU and deliver on our vital levelling up agenda.
As the Bill makes its way to the House of Lords for several hours of debate and scrutiny, I will continue to represent Wealden in the Chamber until around midnight when the Bill returns to the House of Commons for Royal Assent. Although the recall of Parliament today is focused on the European Union Future Relationship Bill, we are also debating and legislating on the new Covid vaccine, potentially new tiers, the impact of Covid on schools, and Public Health restrictions before returning to the EU Bill at around midnight.
I respect those that feel a deep affinity with our European neighbours and our shared values, as I do. Britain and the EU have more in common than divides us and I am pleased that we have found a compromise and agreed a deal on our future relationship.
I welcome this historic agreement as we enter a proud new chapter in our interconnected history. This is a momentous day, and I am confident that Britain will bounce back stronger next year.
I for one am pleased that the remain or leave argument is over.
I am very grateful to my local Wealden farming community and the NFU for working with me over the last five years. In particular, I must thank Mr Jeffries, Mr Appleton and Ms Buchanan.
I am pleased that the deal provides food producers and retailers with the certainty they require to continue trading with Europe. It avoids the imposition of tariffs and quotas which would have arisen in the absence of an agreement, and allows the UK to explore new export opportunities abroad. The agreement has secured the UK’s full autonomy over our public, plant, and animal health regime, tailoring it to the unique circumstances of the UK. The agreement will allow us to work closely together to manage the risks to animal, public and plant health, including through data-sharing and robust and targeted measures to manage disease outbreaks."
