European Council

Chuka Umunna Excerpts

Monday 26th June 2017 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

As I said in my statement, the responses received from individual leaders in the European Union were positive to the proposals that we were putting forward. I can cite the Prime Minister of Poland’s positive response to what was said, for example. I think my hon. Friend makes an interesting point.

[Chuka Umunna (Streatham) (Lab)]

To follow the hon. Member for North Antrim (Ian Paisley), the Prime Minister’s new governing partner, the Democratic Unionist Party, said in its manifesto that it would seek to deliver a “frictionless border” with the Republic of Ireland and a

“comprehensive free trade and customs agreement with the European Union”.

Is it not the case that neither of those objectives can be secured if we leave the European Union without a deal?

[The Prime Minister]

I have to say to the hon. Gentleman that the desires to bring about a frictionless border between Northern Ireland and Ireland and to have a comprehensive free trade deal are exactly what the Government are pursuing. That is what was said in my Lancaster House speech, and we are doing it. I met the incoming Taoiseach last week and discussed how we can work with the Irish Government to ensure that we can deliver just that.