Article 50

Catherine McKinnell Excerpts

Wednesday 29th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

I assure my hon. Friend that we are listening to the voices of various industrial and other sectors around the country to ensure that we take account of the particular concerns they have as we look ahead to leaving the European Union, because we want to ensure that we are able to build on the success we already have. He talks about innovation and success, and we want to be able to build on that for the future, so we will be taking those interests very firmly into account.

[Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) (Lab)]

The Prime Minister’s letter to President Tusk states:

“In security terms a failure to reach agreement would mean our cooperation in the fight against crime and terrorism would be weakened.”

Given that, will she clarify whether she is still threatening to walk away with no deal if she does not get the economic deal she wants?

[The Prime Minister]

I go on to make it very clear in the letter that not having arrangements—not having agreements on these issues—would not be in the interests of the UK and the European Union, and we should work to ensure that we secure a deal.