EU Membership: Economic Benefits

Anne Main Excerpts
Wednesday 15th June 2016

(8 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John McDonnell Portrait John McDonnell
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The concern, obviously, is that tariffs would be introduced, but also the negotiating period to establish a new trade deal will take, optimistically, as the Prime Minister has said, seven years, if not longer.

Anne Main Portrait Mrs Anne Main (St Albans) (Con)
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I want to pay tribute to the thoughtful way that the hon. Gentleman is saying this should not be “Project Fear”. May I ask him, therefore, to join those of us who agree that this panic punishment Budget that has been suggested is not the way we should treat people who choose to vote leave? Can he say that his side would not implement those punitive measures, including slashing the NHS budget?

John McDonnell Portrait John McDonnell
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We have yet to see the details of this Budget proposed this morning, but let us make it absolutely clear: the Labour party is an anti-austerity party and we have voted consistently against austerity measures.