EU Exit Negotiations

Mike Gapes Excerpts

Tuesday 17th October 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Davis]

There are two answers to my hon. Friend. First, we will try to get the nature of the implementation phase agreed as soon as possible so that, as the right hon. Member for Leeds Central (Hilary Benn) said, businesses can take it into account. Secondly, my hon. Friend is right that such a transition phase will be triggered only once we have completed the deal itself. We cannot carry on negotiating through it, because our negotiating position during a transition phase would not be very strong.

[Mike Gapes (Ilford South) (Lab/Co-op)]

The Secretary of State claimed that progress has been made on the questions of EU citizens here and British citizens living in other EU countries. Will he confirm that British citizens living in other EU countries will maintain the protections of the European Court of Justice for the foreseeable future, whether or not we are inside the EU?

[Mr Davis]

I am not sure that I heard the hon. Gentleman correctly. Did he ask about EU citizens here or UK citizens there?

[Mike Gapes]

UK citizens there.

[Mr Davis]

Yes, UK citizens in the EU will of course maintain the protection of the ECJ, because by being inside the EU they will be within the ECJ’s remit.