EU Exit Negotiations

Ian Paisley Excerpts

Tuesday 5th September 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

Yes, that is it exactly. Most businesses understand the real virtues of free trade and large markets, and they understand that a frictionless arrangement is best not just for us but for them.

[Ian Paisley (North Antrim) (DUP)]

Was the Secretary of State as horrified as I was by the comment from a senior Labour party grandee that there will be open “trench warfare” to block Brexit? I do not know whether that grandee was speaking about the conflict between colleagues on the Labour Front Bench, given the disputes over leaving or not leaving the single market, leaving or not leaving the customs union, leaving or not leaving the European Court of Justice and supporting or not supporting freedom of movement, but will the Secretary of State give a strong assurance to my constituents, who voted overwhelmingly to leave the European Union, that the United Kingdom is leaving with or without the help of Her Majesty’s Opposition?

[Mr Davis]

I think the answer is that we will be leaving without the help of Her Majesty’s Opposition, and there is nothing new in that.