Parliamentary Scrutiny of Leaving the EU

Debate between Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak

Wednesday 12th October 2016 Commons Chamber

[Keir Starmer]

I would happily swap places with the Secretary of State and play a part in the negotiations, but we are not in government—

[Rishi Sunak (Richmond (Yorks)) (Con)]

rose—

[Keir Starmer]

I will answer the first intervention, please.

We are not in government and our manifesto did not have a referendum without a plan for exit. We need to be clear at the beginning of this exercise where responsibility for the position in which we find ourselves lies. It lies with a previous Prime Minister and a Government who had no plan for a no vote. That is why we are here today.

[Rishi Sunak]

rose—

[Sir William Cash (Stone) (Con)]

rose—

[Keir Starmer]

I can only give way to one person at a time.

[Rishi Sunak]

The hon. and learned Gentleman mentioned the terms of our exit and also national interest. I come from a business background, and I would love to get a sense of his approach to a successful negotiation. Does he believe that the national interest would be best served by the Government coming to this place and explaining in precise detail all their negotiating positions before we have even walked into the room?

[Keir Starmer]

I will deal with that, because that is an essential question that we need to discuss. In a sense, this should not be about point scoring across the House.