Oral Answers to Questions

Allan Dorans Excerpts

Monday 4th May 2020 Commons Chamber

[Nick Fletcher (Don Valley) (Con)]

What progress he has made in negotiations on the UK’s future relationship with the EU.

[Allan Dorans (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (SNP)]

What recent progress the Government have made on negotiating the UK’s future relationship with the EU.

[The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office (Michael Gove)]

From 20 to 24 April, a full and constructive negotiating round took place, with a full range of discussions across all workstreams. Our next scheduled round of talks with our EU friends will take place in the week beginning 11 May.

--- Later in debate ---

[Michael Gove]

I can reassure my hon. Friend and the good people of Don Valley that the Government are not going to extend the transition period at the end of this year.

[Allan Dorans [V]]

Michel Barnier, the leader of the EU negotiating team, has expressed frustration that the UK’s negotiators seem happy to run down the clock on leaving the transition with no deal in place at the end of this year. We have already heard repeated warnings of the perils of a cliff-edge Brexit, which could be calamitous for the economy at a time when businesses are fragile and crave stability. Will the Chancellor of the Duchy do the right thing by ensuring that his party does not bring about this calamity?

[Michael Gove]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for raising this issue. There have been cordial conversations and negotiations between our negotiator David Frost and Michel Barnier, and I would not want to prejudice those by making any criticism of Michel Barnier, other than to say that he will negotiate hard on behalf of the Commission, but we will negotiate hard on behalf of the whole United Kingdom.