Extracts from Commons debate on European Economic Area: UK Membership - Nov 6
Tuesday, 7 November 2017 07:29
Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) (Lab/Co-op):...As a former trade
Minister who watched and took part in many a long discussion about
trade deals, I struggle with the idea that we could do quickly a
comprehensive trade deal with, say, the United States, or even
with India or Australia. Given the short timescale for a
transition deal that appears to be envisaged by Ministers, and
certainly by the EU, it is fanciful to think we will be able to
sort out comprehensive trade agreements within...Request free trial
(Harrow West)
(Lab/Co-op):...As a former trade Minister who watched and
took part in many a long discussion about trade deals, I struggle
with the idea that we could do quickly a comprehensive trade deal
with, say, the United States, or even with India or Australia. Given the short
timescale for a transition deal that appears to be envisaged by
Ministers, and certainly by the EU, it is fanciful to think we will
be able to sort out comprehensive trade agreements within that
time. The EEA therefore surely represents a sensible transition
arrangement. It is also worth considering for the longer
term...
(Swansea West)
(Lab/Co-op):...My view is that this place should
ultimately have a vote on the exit package, and that that vote
should be at least three months before exit day. Before that, the
people should be given a vote—a final say—on the exit package. The
simple reality is that we continue to hurtle towards this cliff
edge, and people say, “Tell you what, we’ll give you some rubber
shoes to jump over the end”, but an economic and social nightmare
is emerging. A few fundamentalists think we should carry on, but
the people should have the final say because they are simply not
getting what they thought they would get. The ideas about migration
were completely misconceived: we may have to turn our back on the
EU and open up our trading borders to India, but India is demanding more visas; China
does not want us to penetrate that market; and the US will demand
much higher terms. We are heading for a major economic
downturn...
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