Legislating for UK Withdrawal from the EU

Debate between David Davis and Richard Drax

Thursday 30th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

Sometimes the Scottish National party seems to have one element in its ideology and one element only, and it is entitled “grievance”, and the maximisation of grievances. In the past six months, I have attended six meetings with the representatives of devolved Administrations. In a number of the policy areas that we have discussed and that made it into the previous White Paper—employment rights, environmental rights and a whole series of other areas like those—and on the agreement that we need to maintain the maximum possible access to trade for all parts of the kingdom, we have been in the same place. We have, of course, not been in the same place on every single element of policy. We said at the beginning that the DAs would not be given a veto, but would be very heavily consulted and involved in discussions, and that is precisely what we have done. The fact that the Scottish National party wants to claim that it is not happy about that is a matter for it, not for me or the facts.

[Richard Drax (South Dorset) (Con)]

Those who wish to remain in the EU bang on about EU rules and regulations. Surely the whole point of leaving the EU is that we in this place can live under our own rules and regulations, which are suitable for us and not necessarily for 28 countries, as things currently stand.

[Mr Davis]

My hon. Friend is exactly right.

Article 50

Debate between David Davis and Richard Drax

Tuesday 24th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

If I remember correctly, the Supreme Court said of the Sewel convention that it was not for the judges to decide. I listened last week as the Scottish Government Minister presented at great length the arguments in their paper. As I said earlier to one of the hon. Gentleman’s colleagues, there are bits we disagree with and bits we absolutely agree with—for me, the most obvious one is the protection of employment law, which I take very seriously and on which we are absolutely in the same place. I and others on the Joint Ministerial Committee discussed with the Minister the issue of devolution, and the clear point was that no existing devolved powers were to be retracted. Of course, that is not going to happen, but we also have to think, in rational terms and in the interests of the Scottish people and citizens of the UK more widely, about where the best place is to make decisions. In most cases, I would prefer to devolve powers, but in some circumstances that is not practical. We have to do what is right for the people, not what suits our political interest.

[Richard Drax (South Dorset) (Con)]

I am confident that every Member will vote to trigger article 50—for which of us would dare thwart the will of the people? Does my right hon. Friend share my concern, though, about the implications of the case for a Government’s decision to go to war, for example? Could that now be challenged by a member of the public?

New Partnership with the EU

Debate between David Davis and Richard Drax

Tuesday 17th January 2017 Commons Chamber

[Richard Drax (South Dorset) (Con)]

Well done the Prime Minister; well done my right hon. Friend. Does he share my optimism that access to the European markets will not be affected by our departure? The millions of European workers will not allow their politicians or their bureaucrats to threaten their livelihoods simply to punish the United Kingdom.

[Mr Davis]

I am sure my hon. Friend is right and I particularly like the opening part of his question.

Article 50

Debate between David Davis and Richard Drax

Monday 7th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Order. I am not sure that the right hon. Member for New Forest West (Sir Desmond Swayne) yelling “Answer” from a sedentary position quite constitutes the sort of knightly behaviour that we have come to expect of him.

[Richard Drax (South Dorset) (Con)]

If the courts have banged their metaphorical gavel on our prerogative powers, does my right hon. Friend share my concern that they may do so again regarding, for example, a decision to go to war?

[Mr Davis]

One—but not the only—reason why we are taking this to the Supreme Court is to get an absolutely specific outcome and answer.

Next Steps in Leaving the European Union

Debate between David Davis and Richard Drax

Monday 10th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[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.

[Richard Drax (South Dorset) (Con)]

Airbus is a wonderful example of European co-operation. The fuselages are built in France and Germany, and the wings in this country. Does my right hon. Friend agree that any politician or bureaucrat who tried to punish such a project, which has created so much wealth and prosperity and so many jobs, would be mad, bad or totally out of touch with the people they professed to represent?

[Mr Davis]

I would simply add one other word. They would be not mad or bad, but simply unwise.

Exiting the European Union

Debate between David Davis and Richard Drax

Monday 5th September 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

When the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, the common travel area will continue.

[Richard Drax (South Dorset) (Con)]

I welcome my right hon. Friend to his post.

The fishing industry, not least in Scotland, was once a proud and large industry envied around the world. Many of my fishermen constituents see leaving the EU as a huge opportunity. Will he reassure them, other fishermen and potential new fishermen around the United Kingdom that fishing will be very high on his list of priorities, including potentially taking the 200-mile limit back?

[Mr Davis]

One group I have met already is fishermen. The answer to my hon. Friend’s initial question about priority is yes. What form that takes depends on the interests of our fishermen. Because they have interests in other waters, I will not say yes to his second question, but on priority, the answer is yes, absolutely.