Brexit: Triggering Article 50

Lord Davies of Stamford Excerpts

Wednesday 29th March 2017 Lords Chamber

[Lord Davies of Stamford (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Lord Liddle (Lab)]

My Lords—

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[Lord Wigley (PC)]

My Lords—

[Lord Davies of Stamford]

My Lords—

[Lord Taylor of Holbeach]

My Lords, I am sorry but I think we ought to hear from Plaid Cymru.

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[Baroness Evans of Bowes Park]

The Statement acknowledged the fact that for some people this is a day they have waited for but for many it is a day of great disappointment. The Statement also said that we need to bring the country together now and work for the best deal. We need to have an optimistic outlook for Britain because we are a great country and we can make a great success of our future.

[Lord Davies of Stamford]

My Lords—

[Baroness Wheatcroft (Con)]

My Lords—

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[Baroness Evans of Bowes Park]

We have been very clear that we will be as transparent as we can, but we will not give away our negotiating hand.

[Lord Davies of Stamford]

The Statement mentions opportunities on several occasions but does not say what opportunities the Government have in mind. It just provides a string of vacuous adjectives and, in true PR style, mentions the word “together” about 15 times. Will the Leader concede that actually a very large number of opportunities are being destroyed—the opportunity to live and work in 27 other countries, the opportunity to travel in those countries while having the benefit of the local healthcare system, the opportunity for educational exchanges, the opportunity for leading scientific research programmes funded by the EU, the opportunities presented by 35 free trade agreements between the EU and other parts of the world, and the opportunities of the single market itself? Do the Government hope that the public will just forget about these important opportunities that are now being wantonly abandoned?

[Baroness Evans of Bowes Park]

As I have said, we are looking for a new, deep and special relationship with the EU and we believe it will be a very fruitful relationship. In terms of other opportunities, we are looking for excellent trade agreements with countries across the world. We have fantastic bilateral agreements with countries across the world. We are looking to be a global nation.