Oral Answers to Questions

John Whittingdale Excerpts

Thursday 19th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Suella Braverman]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. As I said, we have a long and proud tradition, which predates our membership of the EU, to protecting civil liberties, upholding human rights and enhancing the position of the individual, whether through the rule of law or our commitment to the ECHR. Brexit will not change that.

[Mr John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con)]

4. What recent progress he has made on negotiations with the EU on a withdrawal agreement.

[Nigel Huddleston (Mid Worcestershire) (Con)]

16. What recent progress he has made on negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.

[The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (Dominic Raab)]

On 19 June, we published a joint statement on the draft withdrawal agreement, setting out our progress in agreeing the text on a majority of separation issues. Negotiations are ongoing, and my officials are in Brussels. With last week’s publication of the White Paper, we hope to intensify negotiations on the future relationship.

[Mr Whittingdale]

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the financial settlement contained in the withdrawal agreement is one of our strongest bargaining cards? Will he therefore include in the Bill provisions to ensure that its full payment is conditional on our achieving a satisfactory outcome to negotiations?

[Dominic Raab]

As ever, my right hon. Friend makes a powerful point, and as the EU says, there is no deal until the whole deal is concluded. The withdrawal agreement must come alongside a framework for the future partnership agreement—article 50 requires that—and if one party does not meet its side of the bargain, that will inevitably have consequences for the deal as a whole.