EU Reform Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
David Simpson
Main Page: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)Department Debates - View all David Simpson's debates with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
(9 years, 11 months ago)
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Jim Shannon
The hon. Gentleman and my party were on same platform—that is good news, and I am glad to hear it.
As we move towards the Westminster election campaign next year, people’s minds are focusing on Europe, not just because of other parties’ stances on the issue, but because it affects their lives, and I want to talk about that.
The hon. Member for Stone is right that we cannot let Germany direct EU strategy or policy. We cannot allow debate on EU reform to be simply about tit-for-tat arguments on ideology. We need a real dose of realism, and today’s debate gives us that realism.
The worst of Europe damages the best of Britain. That is how I feel about the issue, and that is how I believe many others feel about it. The worst of Europe means red tape for businesses, mass immigration and less money for hard-working taxpayers. The May elections proved that the people of the EU are angry. The Government should not need reminding that the message sent loud and clear at our polls was that voters have had enough.
David Simpson (Upper Bann) (DUP)
I congratulate the hon. Member for Stone (Sir William Cash) on obtaining the debate. The research notes we received for the debate say Germany wants Britain to remain part of the EU
“because of its economic and political weight”.
If that is the case, Germany and others are surely going to have to change their attitude dramatically.