EU Exit Negotiations

Helen Goodman Excerpts

Tuesday 5th September 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

Politically, my hon. Friend is quite right: that is the case. It is a point of view that is resisted heavily by the Commission, but he is right.

[Helen Goodman (Bishop Auckland) (Lab)]

The Secretary of State knows perfectly well that to keep the lights on in this country, we need the electricity interconnectors with the continent to operate—

[Mr Davis]

indicated assent.

[Helen Goodman]

He is nodding, so he does know. The Secretary of State also knows that the legal base for the energy market is separate from that for the single market, so when he says in his statement that “the key issues in relation to cross-border economic co-operation and energy will need to form an integral part of discussions on the UK’s future relationship”, is he softening up his colleagues sitting behind him for the reality that we will have to stay in the European energy market?

[Mr Davis]

No, but a country does not have to be a member of that to sell and buy from it, just as many other countries do.