EU Exit Negotiations

Debate between David Davis and Richard Drax

Tuesday 5th December 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

In response to the first half of the hon. Gentleman’s question, I recommend that he read Hansard for my statements here, which will prove that he is absolutely wrong. It is really quite a calumny.

As for the First Ministers, there is a body called the Joint Ministerial Committee, which includes representatives of all the devolved Administrations and meets regularly. Sadly, the Northern Ireland Executive are not there at the moment, which is one of the difficulties we have to deal with.

[Richard Drax (South Dorset) (Con)]

We leave the EU in 16 months. Will my right hon. Friend assure the House and the country that the EU delegates are well aware that we are preparing to fall back on World Trade Organisation rules if negotiations fail?

[Mr Davis]

I think that that has been apparent for some time.

EU Exit Negotiations

Debate between David Davis and Richard Drax

Monday 13th November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Richard Drax (South Dorset) (Con)]

Does my right hon. Friend agree that uncertainty is the weapon of the EU Commission and the remainer? I urge him to stiffen his resolve to ensure the will of the British people is kept.

[Mr Davis]

My hon. Friend is exactly right. We see—how can I put this?—time pressure being played against us all the time, and we have to resist that properly.

EU Exit Negotiations

Debate between David Davis and Richard Drax

Tuesday 17th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

The Home Office is already working on that and we will be publishing a White Paper in due course and bringing a Bill to that effect before the House.

[Richard Drax (South Dorset) (Con)]

The decision to leave the EU in its entirety has been made, and any other consequence will be a betrayal of that vote. Is it not right and logical that a no-deal option has to be on the table in the event that we are forced, through bad negotiation and lack of will on the other side, to stay in an organisation that we voted to leave?

[Mr Davis]

My hon. Friend’s point is entirely logical.

EU Exit Negotiations

Debate between David Davis and Richard Drax

Tuesday 5th September 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

If I can finish the sentence, perhaps he will get an answer. When I answered the question on the north-south border, I said that we were also concerned that Ireland’s access to its major market—ourselves—and to the European market through the Welsh ports would be at risk in a bad outcome, so we are absolutely dealing with that issue.

[Richard Drax (South Dorset) (Con)]

My hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Richard Graham) has rather stolen my thunder, because I was going to ask a very similar question about business. What feedback is the Secretary of State getting from businesses across Europe that they want to continue trading with us? It seems to me that the bureaucrats do not and want to punish us, but the business community I speak to wants to do business and does not want tariffs. Is that the feedback he is receiving?