Article 50

Debate between David Davis and Peter Kyle

Tuesday 24th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Peter Kyle (Hove) (Lab)]

A moment ago, the Secretary of State reminded us that our job is to do what is in the best interest of our constituents. The city I represent has 8.5 million visitors each year, has two universities and has an economy that includes the head offices of EDF and Amex. If I do not believe that, between now and March, the guarantees offered by this Government will protect everything that is great about my city, surely the right hon. Gentleman would agree with me that I cannot support this timescale.

[Mr Davis]

I am not about to protect the hon. Gentleman from his constituents, I am afraid. My comment to him is this: we are in a negotiation. If he can point out to me a negotiation that had guarantees before it started, I would be interested to hear about it.

Next Steps in Leaving the European Union

Debate between David Davis and Peter Kyle

Monday 10th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

My hon. Friend is right. We have a mandate and we should remember that. I have heard, although not today to be honest, some sneering comments from people who seem to think that 17.5 million people do not have the right to hold an opinion.

[Peter Kyle (Hove) (Lab)]

After the referendum and three days before his appointment, the right hon. Gentleman wrote in an article that a White Paper outlining the negotiating terms for Brexit should be published. Will he please explain to the House his thinking at the time of writing that article?

[Mr Davis]

The simple answer is this. Throughout the entire referendum campaign, I was trying to think through not so much the retention of the European market, but how we best develop the international markets. Those were my thoughts at that time and, as a Back Bencher, I was entirely entitled to have those thoughts.

Exiting the European Union

Debate between David Davis and Peter Kyle

Monday 5th September 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

I take my hon. Friend’s point well, but I am loth to offer free advice to people who are our negotiating partners. That is a central point of their own policy to put right.

[Peter Kyle (Hove) (Lab)]

Does the Secretary of State accept that we will never attain the goal of being a beacon of free trade unless the British financial services industry retains free and full access to the single market?

[Mr Davis]

That is just one element of free trade, but of course we want to maintain as much access as possible. That is the aim in the negotiations.