Legislating for UK Withdrawal from the EU

Debate between David Davis and Christopher Chope

Thursday 30th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

The straight answer is yes. One of the reasons the White Paper has been published a little later than I would have preferred is of course that we do not have a Northern Ireland Executive at this stage. I waited for the three weeks in the hope that we would have one, but at this point we cannot wait any longer. We will continue to consult the devolved Administrations. In the run-up to the election in Northern Ireland, I invited the out-going Ministers to make sure we had such a mechanism. I will ensure that we have another mechanism for Northern Ireland. I am not yet quite sure what it will be—I would be happy to hear the right hon. Gentleman’s ideas—but I am sure we will have another mechanism, whether or not through the Executive, so that we can also consult with Northern Ireland.

[Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con)]

May I thank my right hon. Friend for making it clear that two years from today our sovereign Parliament will indeed have the power to amend, repeal or improve all this ghastly EU legislation?

Exiting the EU: New Partnership

Debate between David Davis and Christopher Chope

Thursday 2nd February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

Obviously, we need to seek to maintain some sort of standard parity, be it by a measure of equivalence or by something else, depending on the product. The area where the deals outside and the deals with the European Union conflict is on rules of origin. We will have to have a good rules of origin scheme, just as any other free trade area has. For example, the Canadian treaty has specific rules of origin and we will need to do the same. But that is a very small burden by comparison with the sorts of things people are worrying about, if we get the customs agreement we seek.

[Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con)]

When, if ever, does my right hon. Friend think the EU will issue an equivalent White Paper, setting out with equal clarity the agreed negotiating objectives of the 27 other members?

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Davis and Christopher Chope

Thursday 26th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con)]

Can my right hon. Friend explain why so many EU nationals who start off in Scotland end up in England?

[Mr Davis]

No.

Article 50

Debate between David Davis and Christopher Chope

Tuesday 24th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

If I remember correctly, that section ends with the phrase, “nobody has a veto”—no devolved Administration has a veto. In terms of involving and looking after or trying to help assist the interests of the devolved Administrations and the people they represent, we have a whole process in place with the Joint Ministerial Committee, which does nothing but consider these matters. It considers the interests of the nations of the United Kingdom to ensure that none of their special interests, none of their special political situations and none of their special economic situations is harmed in any way.

[Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con)]

There have been a couple of references to paragraph 122 of the Supreme Court judgment. It says:

“There is no equivalence between the constitutional importance of a statute…and its length or complexity.”

It adds:

“A notice under article 50…could…be very short”.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that that is a very important message for Opposition Members?

[Mr Davis]

I take my hon. Friend’s point, and I will seek incisive brevity.

Article 50

Debate between David Davis and Christopher Chope

Monday 7th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

I have already commented on the judges, but let me comment on the treatment of Gina Miller. I have said that I deplore—I cannot find words strong enough, frankly, to say how much I detest—the attacks on her. I have not seen them directly, but they sound to me to be effectively criminal attacks, because incitement of violence, threats of violence and racial abuse are all crimes.

[Mr Christopher Chope (Christchurch) (Con)]

May I press my right hon. Friend further on the idea of allowing both Houses of Parliament to vote early on a resolution calling on the Government to exercise article 50 before 31 March? Surely to do so would respect the judgment in the High Court, because that judgment made it clear that this House is sovereign; and, as a sovereign House, we should decide how to exercise that sovereignty.

[Mr Davis]

I refer my hon. Friend to the comment put to me earlier, which was that it is within the power of the House, if it so chooses, to pass such a resolution.