Brexit: EU Commission Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateLord Kinnock
Main Page: Lord Kinnock (Labour - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Kinnock's debates with the Department for Exiting the European Union
(5 years, 10 months ago)
Lords ChamberI am not sure whether I would describe the negotiations as ghastly. We think that they are constructive and we are looking to get a deal, but we have made it clear that we will not be remaining in the single market or the customs union.
My Lords, was it the confidence of the Government, of which the Minister just spoke, that induced them yesterday to advertise for:
“Resilience Advisers: EU Exit Readiness and Response Support to Local Preparedness”,
in the event of a no-deal Brexit? Is that intelligent, prudent anticipation on the Government’s part or is it anticipation of utter chaos?
It is sensible contingency planning by a responsible Government. As I have said on numerous occasions, we do not want no deal. We hope to negotiate a deal and are working hard to do so, but if we are unsuccessful there will be no deal and we need to make the appropriate preparations. That is presumably why we are advertising these posts and why we published our technical notices.