Brexit: Trade

Lord Lennie Excerpts
Thursday 2nd February 2017

(7 years, 9 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Bridges of Headley Portrait Lord Bridges of Headley
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My noble friend makes a very good point, as always. Yes, we are in touch with those countries. We are well aware of the issues bubbling around throughout Europe about the future of the single market. All I say is that the British people decided on 23 June to leave the European Union and therefore the course is the one that the Prime Minister has set out.

Lord Lennie Portrait Lord Lennie (Lab)
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Can the Minister tell us how much of a fist-fight the Government are preparing for to protect their position on the customs union?

Lord Bridges of Headley Portrait Lord Bridges of Headley
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I am sorry to say that I will not start commenting on language such as “fist-fight”. It does not necessarily augur well for creating the best tone for the negotiations that lie ahead. I will say only that we are determined to protect and strengthen the competitiveness of the United Kingdom economy.