European Union: Future Relationship Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

European Union: Future Relationship

Anthony Browne Excerpts
Thursday 27th February 2020

(4 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Michael Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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That is ultimately a question for the EU. We are clear that we want a relationship of sovereign equals. If the EU attaches to that relationship a requirement that we follow the jurisdiction of its courts, it is not a relationship of sovereign equals. The security of the EU would be impinged as well, and I am sure that no European politician would want to sacrifice the security of their people by taking anything other than a constructive approach.

Anthony Browne Portrait Anthony Browne (South Cambridgeshire) (Con)
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Before I came to this place I had a job, in the wake of the Brexit referendum, representing the banking industry in negotiations with the EU, the European Parliament, the Commission and the European Council, and in discussions with the Bank of England and the Treasury on what sort of relationship we want with the EU after Brexit. We came to realise quite quickly, as did the Bank of England—Mark Carney has spoken on this point—that, as a global financial centre, being a rule taker and having no say on our financial regulation would be a threat to the UK’s financial stability. Does my right hon. Friend agree that we have to be very careful, as becoming a rule taker would be a real threat to our financial services?

Michael Gove Portrait Michael Gove
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I agree 100%. Spot on. Totally correct.