European Council Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

European Council

Lucy Frazer Excerpts
Monday 21st March 2016

(8 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. Mr MacNeil, I have told you before that you are an exceptionally excitable fellow. You have aspirations to statesmanship and must comport yourself accordingly. Now, we will have an altogether more subdued tone.

Lucy Frazer Portrait Lucy Frazer (South East Cambridgeshire) (Con)
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It is often said that the EU is undemocratic and that laws are imposed on us. Is not the decision that the Prime Minister reports today on VAT an example of how Britain can mould and shape those rules and regulations?

Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton Portrait The Prime Minister
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I agree with my hon. Friend. This supports the argument that if we get stuck in, we can change these things. It is frustrating, and those of us on either side of the argument should accept the frustrations referred to by the other side. VAT has been frustrating—frustrating for the last Government, and frustrating for us. Restrictions were put there so that we could have reasonable trade and so that we would not have cross-border shopping issues and tax competition issues, but they are too inflexible and this change is worth while.