Oral Answers to Questions

Sarah Pochin Excerpts

Thursday 10th July 2025 Commons Chamber

The Minister for the Cabinet Office was asked—

[Sarah Pochin (Runcorn and Helsby) (Reform)]

1. What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the new trading relationship with the EU.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

15. What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the new UK-EU trading relationship.

[Sarah Pochin]

In 1973, the UK joined the European Economic Community, which later became the European Union. Given this week’s visit by the French President and this Government’s desire for closer co-operation with the EU, will the Minister confirm that no new or existing trade deal will lead to this country rejoining the EU through the back door?

[Nick Thomas-Symonds]

That is absolutely not the case. What we have with the European Union is a new deal that the supermarkets say has put a downward pressure on prices, and which Octopus Energy says will bring the cost of energy down. I am surprised to hear that Reform is against that, but since it has welcomed Liz Truss’s party chairman as a new member today, perhaps it is no surprise that Reform takes that view.

UK-EU Summit

Sarah Pochin Excerpts

Tuesday 20th May 2025 Commons Chamber

[The Prime Minister]

An hour and a half, and we have only just got to pet passports—but I am really glad my hon. Friend mentions it. The deal contains an advance for pet passports, along with the many other advances that will progress as soon as possible. I assume that the Conservatives are against pet passport progress as well.

[Sarah Pochin (Runcorn and Helsby) (Reform)]

Will the Prime Minister admit to the British people that this deal takes the country back under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice, which is now able once again to overrule our courts, meaning we are surrendering our judicial sovereignty?

[The Prime Minister]

No, that is just wrong under the agreement. There is an independent arbitration—